Bourbon Restoration in Spain (1874-1923): A Period of Political Transformation
The Bourbon Restoration in Spain (1874-1923)
The Bourbon Restoration marks the historical period in Spain extending from General Martínez Campos’s pronouncement in 1874 until the cessation of the 1876 Constitution in 1923. This era aimed to revitalize the nation through a liberal-conservative, albeit undemocratic, approach.
The Cánovas System and Its Foundations
The Cánovas System, orchestrated by Antonio Cánovas del Castillo, drew inspiration from the English Constitution, representing a relatively liberal and modern approach for its time. It established an inclusive constitution intended to foster institutional stability and mitigate civil unrest. Patriotism and Catholicism were emphasized, culminating in the Constitution of 1876. The Restoration emerged as a response to the turbulent Sexenio Democrático (1868-1874), which spanned from the fall of Amadeo I’s democratic monarchy to General Martínez Campos’s coup in Sagunto. The Restoration period concluded with Primo de Rivera’s dictatorship.
The Return of the Monarchy
Following Queen Isabella II’s expulsion from Spain and exile in France in 1868, her son, Alfonso XII, was sent to the prestigious Sandhurst Military Academy in Britain. This strategic move ensured that major powers wouldn’t oppose his eventual reign in Spain, given his Habsburg lineage. In 1870, Isabella II abdicated in favor of Alfonso. The 1874 Sandhurst Manifesto signaled Alfonso’s willingness to assume the Spanish throne and establish a parliamentary monarchy, emphasizing monarchical principle as the basis of historical legitimacy and advocating for an inclusive constitutional monarchy, unlike his mother’s exclusionary approach.
The Restoration Begins
Following the Sandhurst Manifesto, General Martínez Campos’s military coup in Sagunto in December 1874 initiated the Restoration regime. Cánovas, heading the Regency Ministry, prepared for Alfonso XII’s return (1875-1885). He also revised policies from the Sexenio Democrático, restricting press freedoms, reinstating canonical marriage, and prohibiting university teachings that contradicted Catholic dogma or the monarchy. Several wars were brought to an end, including the Carlist War in 1876 with the defeat of Don Carlos and the abolition of Basque-Navarrese fueros (charters), and the Ten Years’ War in Cuba with the Pact of Zanjón in 1878. Cánovas believed these actions would restore Spain’s international standing and curb the military’s political influence, which had been a source of numerous coups.
The Constitution of 1876
The 1876 Constitution established a monarchy with expanded powers for the king, shared sovereignty between the king and the Cortes (parliament), a bicameral Cortes comprising an elected Congress and a Senate with elected and appointed members, religious tolerance (leading to the Church regaining influence), and census suffrage in 1878, later reverting to universal male suffrage in 1890.
The Two-Party System
The Restoration’s political system revolved around the peaceful alternation of power between the Conservative Party and the Liberal Party. This system aimed to end the political exclusivity of Isabella II’s reign and prevent military coups. The Conservative Party, led by Antonio Cánovas del Castillo until his assassination in 1897, drew support from landowners, industrialists, and the financial bourgeoisie. The Liberal Party, under Práxedes Mateo Sagasta, represented the interests of high-ranking civil servants and the middle classes.
The Turno Pacífico and Its Manipulation
The Pact of El Pardo (1885) formalized the system of power rotation known as the turno pacífico. However, this system was undermined by electoral manipulation through encasillado (pre-arranged allocation of electoral districts) and pucherazo (electoral fraud). These practices were facilitated by caciquismo, a system of patronage where local bosses (caciques) controlled votes in exchange for favors.
Opposition and Discontent
The Cánovas system, despite its claims of liberalism, faced opposition from Carlists, Republicans, anarchists, and the nascent labor movement. Critics argued that the system favored the upper classes while neglecting the needs of the general population.