Spain's Neutrality and Societal Impact During World War I
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Spain and World War I
In 1913, Alfonso XIII appointed Eduardo Dato as President of the Government, and he had to deal with the consequences of the First World War. Spain maintained a position of neutrality in the European conflict, lacking significant political importance and military strength. Spanish society took sides with one or another adversary, leading to polemics between "pro-Allies" and "Germanophiles." The upper classes, the Church, and Army commanders favored the Central Powers (Austria and Germany), representing a more conservative order. The most progressive, especially Republicans, were in favor of the Allied powers (France and England), representing a more democratic order. Labor union forces defended neutrality. Neutrality encouraged economic expansion, and Spain became a supplier of agricultural and industrial products. The working classes saw their living standards worsen because there was no wage increase, all this led to strikes and demands.
Impact of the War
The consequences of the war were felt in Spanish society and politics. In 1917, the Russian Revolution erupted. For the first time, a labor party managed to seize power and start the construction of a workers' state. The war also resulted in a modification of the borders of Europe.
1917 Situation
The economic situation derived from World War I accentuated social differences and created a climate of tension. This tension erupted in 1917 when the coincidence between the serious difficulties that the Spanish political system was experiencing, military discontent, and social unrest prompted a public outcry against the government. The following were involved: Turno parties, the military, and workers' organizations. The movement of 1917 did not achieve its objectives because they did not have a program that would allow them to act together, though it certainly managed to frighten the moderates.
Military Crisis
The Spanish army, as a result of colonial wars, had an excessive number of officers in relation to soldiers. Promotions were obtained by merits of war. There was a confrontation between the government and the army over low wages and favoritism in promotions. The strong dissatisfaction caused the formation of the so-called *Juntas*, associations of military officers who demanded pay raises and promotions based solely on seniority. The June 1917 manifesto blamed the government for the ills of the army and the country. Some of the leaders were arrested, but this also showed the weakness and lack of authority of the political system.
Political Crisis
The Dato government, before the crisis, suspended constitutional guarantees, closed the courts, and imposed censorship on the press. As a reaction, the Catalan Parliamentary Assembly was organized, demanding the formation of a provisional government to convene courts to restructure the state. The Assembly convened a meeting of all Spanish deputies and senators, but the Assembly's motion was not sustained and died without achieving constitutional reform.
Social Crisis
The leading role of anti-government protest went to the labor movement and trade unions. The conflict was motivated by lower real wages. In 1916, there was a strike movement, and the UGT and CNT trade unions signed a joint manifesto in which the government ought to intervene to contain low prices under the threat of a general strike. The 1917 strike had an uneven impact; there were violent incidents in some parts of the country. The government's reaction was repressive: they declared martial law and sent the army to suppress the movement. Members of the strike committee were imprisoned, court-martialed, and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Consequences of 1917
The events of 1917 failed to end the political system of the Restoration. It entered a period of decay and void due to the desire for democratic political renewal and the inability of the system to adapt to the demands of social change in the new social sectors. The system entered a crisis in 1923. The most important consequences were the formation of successive coalition governments, although they did not achieve consensus on a common program. Ministers often resigned, and parties withdrew their support from the government. The most relevant national government, led by Maura, formed a cabinet in 1918 with the participation of conservatives and liberals, along with the Regionalist League. The differences between the allies made any reform process impossible.