- Spain: The reign of Alfonso XIII and the crisis of the restoration
The regenerationist restoration and the crisis of 1917
In 1902, Alfonso XIII came of age when he was 16 years old
Morocco had become a colonial problem that was difficult to control
Attack led by Riffian leader Abd-el-Krim resulted in Spain’s defeat at the Battle of Annual 1921
Many human and material losses affected the Spanish people deeply
The Primo de Rivera dictatorship
In 1923, a dictatorship was established under General Primo de Rivera
The dictatorship was an authoritarian response to
the political demands workers and intellectuals
The new regime led to the establishment of a dictatorial power
Freedoms and rights were suspended
Society was reorganised following the corporatist model imposed in Italy by Mussolini
Primo de Rivera took power by launching a military coup d’état
He promised to restore public order, end the war in Morocco and combat corruption
The king accepted Primo de Rivera’s promises and appointed him prime minister
The new dictator immediately
Suspended the Constitution
Dissolved Parliament
Banned political parties and trade unions
Military directorate
The dictator was advised by the military
With the help of the French, Primo de Rivera
Achieved military domination in the Moroccan protectorate
Brought an end to resistance from its inhabitants
Civil directorate
Primo de Rivera tried to institutionalise his authoritarian corporatist regime
Parliament was replaced by a National Consultative Assembly
A single party, the Patriotic Union, was imposed.
The dictatorship did not solve Spain’s economic, social and political problems
It was quite popular amongst the wealthy upper and middle classes and the military
It accumulated huge debts, and economic problems
This was made worse by the crisis of 1929
Republican opposition to the dictatorship began to form in 1928
Left-wing parties, trade unions and intellectuals were gradually joined by other segments of society
Primo de Rivera began to lose support, even from the army and the king, and was forced to resign in January 1930
After Primo de Rivera’s resignation, the monarchy tried to restore the political regime of the Restoration
The republican, socialist and nationalist opposition unified its demands in the Pact of San Sebastián (1930)
Municipal elections were called in April 1931 after a failed military uprising
The opposition in large cities was victorious
It lead to the abdication of Alfonso XIII and the proclamation of the Second Republic
