Spanish-American War & Tragic Week: Causes and Aftermath
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The Spanish-American War of 1898
Causes of the Conflict
- Cuban ranchers protested against the Spanish government's trade restrictions, which prohibited trade with the United States while mandating the purchase of Spanish goods.
- The United States aimed to expand its influence and control in the Caribbean.
- Jose Marti initiated an armed uprising against Spanish rule, seeking Cuban independence.
- General Valeriano Weyler employed brutal tactics against the Cuban population, including crop destruction, forced relocation, and summary executions of civilians in concentration camps.
- The explosion of the USS Maine served as a catalyst for the United States to declare war on Spain.
The War and its Aftermath
The war was brief, resulting in the destruction of the Spanish fleet at Santiago de Cuba and Cavite. In July 1898, Spain surrendered, leading to the signing of the Treaty of Paris. As a result, the Philippines and Puerto Rico became U.S. territories, while Cuba achieved independence.
Implications: The war resulted in significant loss of life.
Multiple Crises in Spain
Social Crisis
A general strike organized by the CNT (Confederación Nacional del Trabajo) and the UGT (Unión General de Trabajadores) paralyzed the entire nation. The strike gained considerable momentum, raising the prospect of a workers' revolution.
Political Crisis
The government dissolved the Congress to prevent criticism from parliamentarians. Before the dissolution, Republican, Socialist, and Nationalist members convened in Barcelona to demand a new constitution, the end of *caciquismo* (political bossism), and autonomy for Catalonia.
The Tragic Week of 1909
The Tragic Week was a violent uprising that erupted in Barcelona in 1909, sparked by a strike against the war in Morocco. The city was filled with barricades, and numerous religious buildings were burned between July 26 and August 2.
Causes of the Uprising
The primary cause was the conscription of soldiers to fight in the Moroccan War.
Labor unions organized a highly successful strike, leading to numerous confrontations with law enforcement. Many individuals participated in the burning of churches, convents, and religious schools.
Repression and Aftermath
Following the suppression of the revolt, the state initiated a period of repression. Secular schools were closed, Republican newspapers were shut down, and some labor unions, Socialists, and Catalan Nationalists faced persecution. Catalan authorities exiled numerous Anarchists and Republicans, while others fled to France. The crackdown also resulted in the circulation of many anonymous writings in Barcelona.
Numerous trials were conducted, resulting in five death sentences:
- Miquel Josep Baró, a Catalan Republican, led the revolt in Sant Andreu.
- Antoni Malet, burned the church of Sant Adrià.
- Eugenio del Hoyo, a soldier who opened fire.
- Ramon Clemente, danced with the corpse of a nun.
- Francisco Ferrer Guardia, a Republican close to Anarchism, was considered the ideologue of the revolt.
The Moroccan War and its Impact
After the disastrous Spanish-American War, Spain established a new colonial empire in the Rif region of northern Morocco. The Algeciras Conference resulted in the division of Morocco between Spain and France.
This division led to a colonial war that claimed the lives of many Spanish soldiers. The Battle of Annual, where Moroccan forces led by Abd el-Krim defeated over 12,000 Spanish soldiers, many of whom were Catalans, dealt a severe blow to the Spanish monarchy. This defeat contributed to the events of the Tragic Week.