Spain’s Democratic Sexenio, First Republic, and Bourbon Restoration
Six Years of Democracy (1868-1874)
The Revolution and the Provisional Movement
In September 1868, the Battle of Alcolea forced Queen Isabella II and Alfonso into exile. The economic and political crisis of the monarchy in Spain led to the ‘Glorious Revolution’, a military uprising that marked the beginning of a new period known as the Democratic Sexenio. This was triggered by progressives and democrats, joined by unionists. In 1869, the Cortes ratified a new Constitution based on democratic principles, such as national sovereignty, universal male suffrage, and individual rights. It also established a parliamentary monarchy.
The Monarchy of Amadeo I (1845-1890)
Amadeo of Savoy was the only king of Spain from the House of Savoy. He was the second son of the Duke of Aosta of Italy. He reigned as King of Spain from 1870 to 1873, having been elected by the Cortes. His reign was fraught with growing republicanism, the Carlist rebellions in the north in 1872, and the independence movement in Cuba. In 1873, he abdicated and returned to Italy due to increasing opposition, leading to the declaration of the First Republic.
The First Republic
Proposed Reforms:
- Suppression of the ‘quintas’, an obligatory and unpopular military recruitment among the lower classes.
- Suppression of the ‘consumos’, an unpopular tax on primary products.
- Creation of a federal state with significant autonomy.
- Establishment of rights for the working class and new Church confiscations.
Problems:
- The Carlist and Cuban wars intensified.
- State revenues decreased, provoking a financial crisis.
- Increased nationalist claims, concretized in the Cantonalism phenomena, a political option aiming to divide the state into highly autonomous cantons and establish a confederation of towns or cities as a federation of independent units. The Cantonal Revolution spread through many regions.
- Disunity between political parties (democrats, republicans, progressives), which increased conservative conspiracies against the republic (Bourbon restoration).
Conclusion: The Republic faced too many problems, leading to political instability (four presidents in a year). This ended with a Coup D’état in 1874 by Martinez Campos. In January 1874, General Pavia dissolved the Cortes.
Bourbon Restoration
The restoration of the Bourbon monarchy began in December 1874, when General Martinez Campos proclaimed Isabella II’s son, Alfonso XII, King of Spain (1874-1885). Alfonso XII was more liberal than his mother.
Features:
- The new monarchy adopted the Canovist system, a political system created by Cánovas del Castillo.
- One of the objectives was the pacification of Spain, which ended the Carlist war in 1876 and the Cuban war. The army was made subordinate to civil power to end the pronunciamientos.
- To guarantee stability, the moderate Constitution of 1876 was established, sharing power between the Cortes and the king, including a bill of rights, establishing bicameral Cortes, and declaring a confessional state. This Constitution was the longest in Spanish history, lasting until 1923.
- Under the bipartisanship, two political parties were created: the Conservative Party led by Cánovas and the Liberal Party led by Sagasta.
- The two parties used a system called the ‘turno pacifico’, alternating peacefully in power (without pronunciamientos but with control of elections).
- During the regency of Maria Christina (1885-1902), the system of alternating power was consolidated through the Pact of Pardo.
- All the changes led to economic and political stability and significant industrialization.