Spanish Monarchy Crisis and the Second Republic

The Reign of Alfonso XIII and Political Reforms

In 1902, the monarch Alfonso XIII came of age and was proclaimed king. His reign began with several attempts at modernization through legislative changes:

• The Electoral Reform Bill aimed at opening the political system and stamping out electoral fraud.
• The Lock Law (Ley del Candado) limited the implementation of new religious orders.
• The Conscription Law made military service mandatory during times of war and abolished the exemption fee.
• The Provincial Associations Law granted greater administrative autonomy to local councils and municipalities (ayuntamientos).

Political Instability and Social Unrest

The era was marked by significant tension, notably the army's difficulty in controlling the Rif region of Morocco. The shipment of 40,000 reservists, recruited primarily from the popular classes, sparked a violent revolt in Barcelona. The labor movement called a general strike against the war, which escalated into fighting and looting; this period became known as Tragic Week (Semana Trágica).

In the following years, social unrest increased. Spain experienced an economic boom because it supplied agricultural products to belligerent countries during World War I. However, the army increasingly interfered in politics through Defense Boards, while regional parties pushed for democratization and decentralization.

The 1917 Crisis and Military Interference

In August 1917, the CNT and UGT organized a general strike that failed but unleashed a profound military, political, and social crisis. The King proposed the creation of concentration governments, but their failure was evident as the system continued to collapse.

The Dictatorship of Primo de Rivera (1923–1930)

The Annual Disaster was one of the primary causes of the coup d'état led by General Miguel Primo de Rivera on September 13, 1923. Other factors included the discredit of the parliamentary system, political radicalization, social unrest, and the emergence of authoritarian regimes across Europe.

The Military and Civil Directories

In 1923, a Military Directory was created. By 1925, Primo de Rivera swapped the military directory for a Civil Directory and created a unique political party inspired by fascist Italy, the Patriotic Union (Unión Patriótica). While there was significant economic progress, it did not prevent growing opposition to the dictatorship. Eventually, the monarch withdrew his support, and the General resigned.

The Proclamation of the Second Spanish Republic

In January 1930, after Primo de Rivera's resignation, Alfonso XIII appointed a new government with the aim of restoring the Constitution of 1876. However, in August 1930, the political opposition signed the Pact of San Sebastián to overthrow the monarchy.

The Fall of the Monarchy and the 1931 Constitution

The government was forced to call municipal elections on April 12, 1931. The results gave a resounding victory to the Republican-Socialist coalition. Consequently, Alfonso XIII abdicated, and on April 14, the Second Spanish Republic was proclaimed. A provisional government initiated a series of urgent reforms. Niceto Alcalá-Zamora was elected President of the Republic in December, and the courts approved the 1931 Constitution as the fundamental law. Despite these efforts, a diversity of political trends provoked instability that eventually contributed to the Republic's failure.