+Lesson 1 – Fall of the Spanish MonarchyEssential Question

Why did King Alfonso XIII abdicate in 1931?

Learning Outcomes: Students will Preview – History of Spain Learn about problems facing Spain at the

beginning of the 20th Century Learn about the De Rivera Dictatorship

Success Criteria I can predict the issues which will lead to

the Spanish Civil War

+Preview

What do you know about the history of Spain before the 20th Century?

+Vocab

Constitutional Monarchy

Tragic Week

Cortes

Primo De Rivera

+Spanish Monarchy

Constitutional Monarchy under King Alfonso XIII

Spain is polarized between rich and poor Rich – Army, Church, Landowners Poor – Mass of peasants and urban workers 1909 – Tragic Week – in Barcelona, a protest for a

reservist soldier getting called to Morocco resulted in a mass protest, leading to the torching of many religious schools, churches by the working class

Spain once had a great empire which was not in great decline 1898 – Spanish-American War resulted in losing

last overseas colonies in the Philippines and Cuba)

1921 – troops sent to put down a rebellion in Morocco, which were soundly defeated, emphasizing the corruption and incompetence of the king

What problems

are facing Spain?

+De Rivera Gov’t

Cortes (Parliament) ordered an investigation into army corruption Sept 13, 1923 – in response, led by General

Primo De Rivera, the army led a coup against the gov’t

King Alfonso sided with the army and named De Rivera Prime Minister

De Rivera creates a dictatorship Ruled with the support of the Army and Church Dissolves parliament and declares martial law,

Introduced censorship Imprisoned critics and banned political parties Banned Catalan language

Presented politicians as weak and unpatriotic while the country should be proud of the army

+De Rivera Gov’t

Initiated policies to help the poor and modernize Spain Introduced public works programs

Built roads, dams for hydro-electricity Followed Mussolini’s model of a

Corporate State, but this resulted in labour gaining more influence

Increased taxes paid by the rich Borrowed money to pay for programs

Policies fail Inflation ended up hurting the poor

more resulting in further disparity His biggest supporters (Army and

Church) are reactionary and do not support reform

Would not take on Spain’s biggest need (Agrarian Reform)

A New Motto for Spain. King Alfonso. "So you want to start these reforms at once; not put them off till to-morrow, which is supposed to be our Spanish way with everything?" President of

the Directory. "Yes, Sire, we have no mananas to-day." (cartoon showing King Alfono XIII of Spain holding a Directory of Reforms during the

InterWar era)

+Fall of De Rivera and the Monarchy Loses the support of the Army Never supported his seizure to begin Injected politics into army promotions

Loses support of the King Did not solve the country’s problems,

especially with the beginning of the depression

Student protest against the dictatorship and the King for supporting it

Jan 1930 – De Rivera resigns and the King appoints a new General to govern People believe the monarch is

discredited because it supported the dictatorship

April ‘31 – Army General informs the King that he does not have the support of the army

14 April 1931 – King Alfonso abdicates

Have the problems facing Spain when De Rivera took over been fixed?What issues do you think the upcoming civil war in 1936 will revolve around?