Spain’s Revolution of 1868: From Monarchy to Republic
Revolution of 1868
Causes
The causes of the revolution were economic, political, and social.
The Revolution Begins
The revolution began with the pronouncement of the Navy in Cadiz under the command of Admiral Topete and the army, with General Prim and Serrano. The revolution was consolidated through the formation of revolutionary committees.
Provisional Government and Dual Power
A Provisional Government was formed under the chairmanship of Serrano. At this time, there was a dual power: the government, which advocated for a monarchy, and the committees (still in existence), which leaned towards a Republic.
Economic and Anticlerical Reforms
The government implemented economic and anticlerical reform measures. The economic reform, developed by Figuerola, was significant: it established the peseta as the monetary unit, set a tariff in Spain, and introduced free trade, reducing trade barriers. The situation was complicated by a wave of riots and the colonial problem in Cuba.
Universal Suffrage and Elections
A series of measures were approved, such as universal suffrage, freedom of religion, press, assembly, and association. The government called for elections for the formation of the Constituent Cortes, which would be by universal suffrage (male and direct). A fraction of the Democratic Party, which supported the Republic, formed the Federal Republican Party. The Carlists also gained some deputies.
The Constitution of 1869
Constitutional Monarchy and Democracy
The Constitution of 1869 provided for the design of a constitutional monarchy and democracy, establishing national sovereignty. The Bill of Rights was very characteristic, including the usual rights, plus freedom of residence, teaching, and worship (with an obligation to maintain Catholicism).
Division of Powers and Decentralization
. The courts, composed of two chambers (House and Senate) and elected by universal suffrage, assume full legislative power. Independence and democratization of justice, to regulate the judicial career system and entering competitions figure of the jury. It also establishes the democratic election of city councils and county councils.
Executive power is vested in the King according to the British formula of “the king reigns but does not govern”, as exercised through the ministers who are accountable to the Cortes. The court appoints a Regent Serrano Prim and he was charged with forming a government, and had the responsibility to find a king who had to be a Catholic and his favorite liberal and Amedeo of Savoy, the son of the king of Italy.
THE reign of Amadeo I
was the candidate of the progressives and Prim, in his brief reign had little support, with the aristocratic and popular rejection and had to face serious problems. Prim’s murder deprived him of fundamental support. Could do nothing to the decomposition of the ruling coalition, the split within the progressive party (radical, Ruiz Zorrilla, and Constitutionalists, Sagasta). Economic hardship and the problem of the war in Cuba contributed to the growing domestic political instability.
The nobility and landed aristocracy
had not accepted the policy of 68. Its members will join the ranks of the party Alfonsino. The commercial and industrial bourgeoisie also sympathized with the cause of the son of Elizabeth II, although in principle (Catalan bourgeoisie) had supported Prim The causes of this shift in economic policy are free trade and the labor movement fear that under the right of association and the First International (IWA), began to form unions.
Carlist opposition had been reborn after the fall of Elizabethan triggered shortly after a new Carlist war. The r epublicanos opposed the monarchical solution. The leader of federalism was Pi y Maragall. However, the Republicans were divided since its inception in unitary and federal. The climax of the crisis occurred since 1872. Amadeo took to abdicate in 1873. The House and Senate in joint session (National Assembly) proclaimed that day the Republic.
The Assembly appointed as chairman of the executive Figueras a unitary republic. Its main task was to convene a Constituent Cortes to enact a new constitution, having serious problems, as an emerging Carlist war in the north, the problem of Cuba and an army inclined to conservatism. In his months in office was able to launch certain democratic measures. such as the removal of the fifth.
The new Cortes proclaimed the Federal Republic, being nominated as President of Pi and Margall government. But it soon emerged, among Republicans federal disagreement over how it should be organized (17 states). The “compromise”, which constituted the majority (led by Pi y Maragall), felt it was important to achieve social order and then proceed to the construction of the Federal Republic from above, the “intransigent” argued that it would begin construction of the federation from below, achieved that, come peace and order.
The draft constitution was rejected. This was the starting point of a revolution that began in Cartagena cantonal and spread to cities in the South and East of Spain. In this revolution (each canton population proclaimed autonomous central power together three different speed: the regionalist and social policy. Thefind classes believed in federalism: full equality and greater distribution of wealth, for it followed the hardliners.
Pi y Maragall resigned and was succeeded by Salmerón, who later also resign due to problems of conscience. The new President Castelar was reduced to establish order. The attempt to lead the Republic back to the left was interrupted by the coup of General Pavia, who finished with the Constituent and ended the First Republic, a Republican, but qualifies as dictatorship (Republic Praetorian): General Serrano became president executive made giving end revolution 1868. Restored order, taking exceptional measures, and suggested the end of the Carlist War.
L because of the son of Isabel II, Alfonso, sponsored by Canovas del Castillo, progressed. General Martinez Campos, Sagunto ruled in favor of the restoration of the monarchy, which would occur in 1875 with Alfonso XII.