Spain’s First Republic: A Tumultuous Journey (1873-1874)
The First Spanish Republic (1873-1874)
A Tumultuous Beginning
Despite constitutional prohibitions, the House and Senate convened as a National Assembly, proclaiming the Republic and electing Estanislao Figueras as President. This followed the abdication of Amadeo I and aimed to establish a federal system based on the 1869 Constitution. While seemingly a dramatic shift, the political class remained largely unchanged, with the Republic arising from the King’s resignation as the only viable solution. International recognition was limited, primarily to federal countries like Switzerland and the United States.
Instability and Division
The Republic’s instability was evident from its inception. Proclaimed by a parliament dominated by the radical party of Ruiz Zorrilla, the Republicans were in the minority. The incoming leaders lacked a clear governing program, and ideological divisions quickly emerged. Federalism, initially a unifying principle, became a source of contention, exacerbated by the Cantonal movement and Carlist uprisings. The state faced near-total collapse of authority and widespread chaos.
Opposition and Constitutional Crisis
The Republic faced hostility from conservative forces: Carlists intensified their war efforts, the nobility conspired, the military resisted the proposed abolition of conscription, and sectors of the bourgeoisie were apprehensive. A federal constitutional project based on the 1869 Constitution, though never approved, highlighted the decentralization favored by Castelar. This envisioned seventeen states encompassing mainland and island territories, plus Cuba and Puerto Rico, with a traditional division of powers and a President.
Timeline of Events
Figueras’s Brief Tenure
Estanislao Figueras’s government abolished consumption taxes and granted amnesty, but revolutionary juntas occupied city councils, and unrest persisted. The state’s finances crumbled, and the army, dismantled by the end of conscription, descended into anarchy. Figueras resigned in June.
Cantonal Movement and Pi y Margall
The Cantonal movement saw local federalist Republicans attempting to implement their ideals. Cartagena declared itself an independent republic on July 12, a move replicated in other cities, primarily in Andalusia and eastern Spain. Pi y Margall, Figueras’s successor, failed to control the situation and resigned in July.
Salmerón and Castelar
Nicolás Salmerón aimed to consolidate the Republic, relying on generals to maintain order and suppress the Cantonal movement. He also mobilized the army against the Carlists but resigned in September over a death sentence. Emilio Castelar, his successor, adopted a more authoritarian approach, abandoning federalism to focus on social revolt. He faced opposition from within the army, and on January 2, 1874, was defeated in a vote in Congress.
Serrano and the Restoration
Following Castelar’s defeat, General Pavia dissolved parliament. General Serrano assumed leadership, implementing a policy of order, suppressing dissent, and crushing the Cartagena revolt. However, the Carlist war continued, and the financial situation remained dire. Political forces gravitated towards the monarchy as a source of stability. The Sandhurst Manifesto, written by Canovas del Castillo and endorsed by the future Alfonso XII, fueled this sentiment. On December 29, General Martínez Campos proclaimed Alfonso XII King of Spain, ending the Republic and frustrating the hopes of a democratic revolution.