How the 1898 Spanish-American War Led to the Spanish Civil War

The Spanish-American War, which concluded in 1898 with a US victory, is referred to in Spain as 'El Desastre.' This conflict marked the decline of the Spanish Empire, contributing to the collapse of the Bourbon monarchy and the onset of the Spanish Civil War. The loss of territories such as Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines incited radical sentiments among Spanish military leaders. Figures like General Valeriano Weyler and Admiral Pascual Cervera emerged as icons of military discontent. This turmoil also sparked Catalan and Basque nationalism, leading to the establishment of the Lliga Regionalista in 1901 and the emergence of Sabino Arana's Basque Nationalist Party (PNV). Political divisions deepened following the assassination of Prime Minister Antonio Cánovas in 1897. Alfonso XIII's abdication in 1931 paved the way for the Second Republic. General Francisco Franco's uprising in 1936 ignited the Civil War, resulting in a dictatorship that lasted until 1975. Currently, Spain is a democratic member of the EU and relies on NATO for its security.