Alfonso XII’s Reign & the Canovista System in Spain
The Reign of Alfonso XII: A New Era in Spain
The Shift to Conservatism
The reign of Alfonso XII marked a significant turning point in Spanish history. Political instability during the previous democratic presidential term had caused a shift of the bourgeoisie towards more conservative positions. The failure of the Republican ticket had awakened in broad sections of society the desire for a restoration of the monarchy, but on new political foundations that would restore order and ensure stability. Antonio Cánovas del Castillo was one of the great political actors of the time, as well as the architect of the Restoration. He prepared for the return to Spain and the throne of Alfonso XII.
The Sandhurst Manifesto
Cánovas’ intention was that the Bourbon Restoration be imposed as a result of a shift in public opinion and not by a new military *pronunciamiento*. To achieve this, Prince Alfonso signed the Manifesto of Sandhurst, which exposed to the Spanish people his religious ideals and conciliatory purposes. However, the military once again stepped forward, and the trigger of the Restoration was the military coup in Sagunto, where General Martínez Campos proclaimed Alfonso XII king. Cánovas was forced to accept it. In January 1875, the new king arrived in Barcelona and then made a triumphant entry into Madrid.
The Brief Reign of Alfonso XII
The reign of Alfonso XII, interrupted by his early death at the age of 28, represents the consolidation stage of the Canovista political system. The government was basically exerted by the Conservative Party, with the Liberal Party as a protagonist for only three years. Cánovas was consolidating his political system with major successes:
- The Constitution was enacted in 1876.
- The traditional political protagonism of the military and the practice of *pronunciamientos* ended.
- Wars inherited from the previous period, such as the Carlist and Cuban wars, were settled.
- A favorable international economic situation favored the consolidation of Spanish capitalism.
The Canovista System
Cánovas designed a new political system by which the monarchy ought to govern thereafter, known as the Canovista System. Its source of inspiration was the English model, whose stability was based on the alternation of two major governing parties and the historical consolidation of two key institutions: the monarchy and the Parliament. Thus, Cánovas’ political project was based on three vertices: the King, the *Cortes*, and bipartisanship as an ideal system, along with a moderate constitution. The two parties were the Conservative Party, led by Cánovas, and the Liberal Party, led by Sagasta. Both alternated in power through the *turno de partidos* (turn of parties). Carlists on the right and Republicans on the left were excluded from Cánovas’ project.
The Constitution of 1876
After the elections, the constituent *Cortes* met. The result was the Constitution of 1876, based on the moderate nature of the 1845 Constitution. Its advantage was its elasticity, meaning its provisions were consistent with very different governments. Its main characteristics were:
- National sovereignty shared between the King and the *Cortes*.
- A bill of rights similar to that of 1869.
- Catholicism as the official religion, banning public demonstrations of any other faith.
- Increased prerogatives for the King, who appointed ministers and could convene and dissolve the *Cortes*.
- Bicameral *Cortes*, limiting their power.
- The Senate, with an elitist and conservative character, was integrated by senators in their own right and those appointed by the King.
- The Congress was elected, and the Constitution did not define its suffrage, leaving it to the discretion of the government in power.