Spain’s First Republic: A Brief History 1873-1874

Posted on Jan 19, 2025 in History

It was born from the fragile union of radical liberals (mostly Monarchists), Democrats, and Republicans.
It was never recognized by France, the United Kingdom, and the Holy See.
Its social support came from a sector of bourgeois liberal intellectuals and progressive elements of the working class.
It had great political instability (4 presidents in a year) due to disputes between Federalists and Unitarians, and among the supporters of social transformations and their opponents.
It had to face a serious economic crisis, the Carlist uprising, and the Cuban independence movement.

Republican government led by Prime Minister Figueras, who was chairman of the executive. Castelar assumed the portfolio of state, Pi y Maragall the Interior, and Salmerón Justice.
Destabilizing attempts: The mayor of Madrid started a failed coup in the absence of Serrano and Sagasta. The federal government sector was forced to dissolve the courts and hold elections.
Federalist victory in the June 1873 elections and the departure of Figueras, who went to Paris.

Government program of the new president: Transformations to improve the situation of public finances, separation of church and state, abolition of slavery in Cuba, creation of mixed juries, limiting child labor, and reform of the sale of goods to give land to domestic laborers.
Draft Constitution, Republican:
- Territorial organization based on a federation of 17 states, including Cuba.
- The separation between the Catholic Church and the state.
- Expansion of the right of association.
Cantonalist Insurrection: The aim of the organization of the Federal Republic was based on municipalities. This process involved political forces of different natures depending on the canton, from conservatives to internationalists. On July 12, the canton of Cartagena was proclaimed, on the 18th Valencia, on the 19th Seville, Torrevieja, Almansa, and Cadiz, on the 20th Granada and Castellón.
Resignation of Pi y Maragall: He was not in favor of ending the Cantonalist uprising by force, beset by the resurgence of the Carlist War.

Pacification of the Levant and Andalusia: Salmerón was supported by the army to restore constitutional order. The generals were Martínez Campos and Pavía. Salmerón focused his political action in Spain and on the suppression of the Carlists.
His resignation: His refusal to sign a death sentence led him to resign.

Conservative turn of the Republic: He practiced a policy to restore national unity and social order sought by the bourgeoisie and the nobility.
Reorganization of the army: Successes against the Carlists and the end of cantonalism with the fall of Cartagena. Castelar was supported by the military, and volunteers reduced the Republic.
Defeat of Castelar in the motion of confidence: Upon the reopening of the chambers, the federalist opposition demanded a vote of confidence, which Castelar lost.
Coup d’état of General Pavía: The courts provided for the arrival of the forces of General Pavía in the early morning of January 3, 1874. The Captain General of Madrid dissolved the Congress of Deputies with the assistance of the infantry.

Serrano, president of the government: He assumed executive power with some uncertainty regarding the model of the regime. It created a climate favorable to the union of the conspiratorial forces that wanted the return of the Bourbons. The Serrano government included Sagasta (constitutional) and García Ruiz (Radical Unitarian). He began a task to restore social order and give assurances to conservatives. He dissolved the Spanish section of the International and declared the federal Republicans outside the law.
Role of the Serrano government: The Bank of Spain was transformed into the National Bank. This ensured the existence of a bank that lent money to the government in exchange for granting the ability to issue notes in excess of reserves. Cánovas favored the projected future restoration in the son of Isabel II, due to changes in the control of the northern army.
Statement by Martínez-Campos and Bourbon restoration: Due to the pressure to return to doctrinaire liberalism exerted by traditional forces, Martínez Campos pronounced himself in Sagunto and proclaimed Alfonso XII king. The government barely resisted, and General Serrano took the road to exile. In Madrid, a government headed by Cánovas was formed with the support of former Unionists and Progressives.