Restoration Spain and the Crisis of 1898
The Great Peace and Germany’s Rise
Restoration Spain coincided with a period of peace in Europe known as the Great Peace. Germany, having achieved political unity and significant industrial development, held a leading position on the continent under Chancellor Bismarck. Through a system of alliances with Austria, Russia, and Italy, Bismarck secured Germany’s dominance. Meanwhile, France navigated the Third Republic, and Great Britain enjoyed the Victorian era.
European Imperialism and US Expansion
Europe focused on conquering Africa and Asia. The United States, having overcome its Civil War, set its sights on the remnants of the Spanish empire: Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines. Spain, failing to fully integrate into Bismarck’s alliance system, found itself isolated and unable to contain American imperialism.
The Crisis of 1898
Spain faced a severe crisis in 1898. An insurrection in Cuba, sparked by the “Grito de Baire,” began in 1895 and ultimately led to Cuban independence in 1898. In 1896, movements for emancipation, led by José Rizal, emerged in the Philippines.
Causes of the Crisis
- Spain’s failure to honor the 1878 Zanjón agreement led to discontent among Creoles.
- Creoles felt Spain’s economic backwardness hindered the island’s growth.
- Spain mishandled the Cuban situation, rejecting an 1893 autonomy plan by Antonio Maura.
- A belated autonomous law in 1895 was rejected by Cubans, leading to further uprisings.
- Growing patriotic sentiment in Cuba and the Philippines, supported by US interests.
The Cuban Uprising
José Martí led the Cuban uprising, focusing on the eastern part of the island. Cánovas del Castillo attempted reconciliation by sending General Martínez Campos to negotiate, but his failure led to his replacement.
Disentailment and its Consequences
The decoupling of civil and noble heritage, initiated by the Courts of Cádiz in 1812 and continued during the Liberal Triennium, claimed national ownership of real estate and religious properties. The 1851 concordat addressed the rift between the church and the liberal state, with the Holy See recognizing the confiscations and ratifying royal patronage. The 1855 general disentailment law, directed by Madoz, affected secular clergy and municipal properties, aiming to repay state debt and fund public works.
Consequences of Disentailment
- Economic: Increased cultivated area and agricultural production, but also deforestation due to small plot acquisitions and indiscriminate felling.
- Social: Failure to create an agrarian middle class, replacing the old social structure with a capitalist one. Land concentration in a few hands and impoverishment of municipalities.
- Political: Created supporters for the liberal cause by linking their fortunes to it. The frustrated land reform failed to create an agrarian middle class, worsening the peasants’ situation.