Spain's Regency After Alfonso XII: Crisis of 1898

The Regency of Maria Cristina After Alfonso XII's Death

The early death of Alfonso XII led to the regency of his wife, Maria Cristina. During this period, the Canovas system was consolidated, and there was a significant liberalization of the regime. However, the practice of despotism in politics continued, alongside the recovery of the Republican party, the emergence of nationalist parties, and the organization of the worker's movement.

The regency faced the crisis of 1898 and the wars with the colonies. Foreign policy was characterized by a "recollection" that meant keeping Spain out of alliances and international conflicts. With this policy, the government intended to maintain its colonial empire, comprising territories in Africa, the Pacific Islands, the Asian archipelago (Philippines), and Latin America (Cuba and Puerto Rico).

Meanwhile, in Europe, Germany was leading, France was experiencing the Third Republic, and Britain was in the years of the glorious Victorian era. Europe embarked on the conquest of Africa and Asia, and the U.S. set its sights on the last Spanish colonies.

Consequences of the Crisis of 1898

• International: Spain, besides losing Cuba, ceded Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and the island of Guam to the U.S. as war compensation. The few remaining Asian possessions were sold.
• Cuba: The U.S. military occupied Cuba under the pretext of creating conditions for its independent political career.
• USA: As owners of the Caribbean, they applied "dollar diplomacy" in Latin America, and control of the Philippines put them in touch with Asia.
• Spain: The loss of the colonies is known as the "Disaster of '98," whose effects were:

• Casualties and psychological damage, resulting in national trauma.
• Material losses due to the loss of revenue from the colonies.
• Political crisis on both sides, but especially in the liberal party. Sagasta was replaced by the conservative Francisco Silvela, whose government initiated a reform policy, which prompted a strike by taxpayers. Maria Cristina gave power to the liberals.
• Discrediting of the military.
• Due to the failure of Spanish nationalism, Catalan and Basque nationalism began to take hold to a large extent.
• In the intellectual and literary spheres, the disaster led to the development of "Regenerationism."

After the Disaster of '98, different Regenerationist movements appeared, along with the emergence of the "Generation of '98" group.