Spain’s 1868 Revolution & the 1869 Constitution
The Revolution of 1868 and the Constitution of 1869
La Gloriosa
“La Gloriosa” involved a popular uprising, primarily military and progressive liberals, against Queen Isabella II and the moderate government of Narváez.
Causes
- Financial Crisis (1866): Due to low profitability of investments in both public and private railways, hindering aid to other economic sectors.
- Textile Industry Crisis: Difficulty obtaining raw cotton, mainly from the USA during the Civil War, led to business closures and layoffs,
The Spanish Restoration (1875-1902): Constitution, Politics, and Alfonso XII
The 1876 Spanish Constitution
Approval and Core Principles
The 1876 Constitution served as the fundamental law of Spain, outlining the structure and limitations of its government. It defined the relationship between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, establishing a framework for governance and guaranteeing certain rights to the people. Key ideas reflected in the text include:
- Freedom of expression for all Spanish citizens.
- Recognition of Catholicism as the state religion, with restrictions
Spain’s 19th Century: From Absolutism to Liberalism
1. Introduction
- Charles IV and the Ancien Régime
- Fear of the Spread of French Revolutionary Ideas
- Godoy’s Influence: Subservience to French Interests, Presence of French Troops, and the Road to the War of Independence
- The Cortes of Cadiz and the 1812 Constitution: A Liberal Experiment During the War of Independence
- Fernando VII’s Return and the Restoration of Absolutism
2. Fear of Revolution and Alliance with Napoleonic France
2.1 Relations with Revolutionary France
- Floridablanca and Aranda: Initial Panic
The Crisis of 1917 and the Decomposition of the Spanish System (1918-1923)
The Crisis of 1917
The poor distribution of social benefits from the economic boom and growing inflation led to the outbreak of a deep and complex social crisis in 1917. Several aspects can be distinguished:
Military Crisis
Discontent among “mainland” officers due to the rapid and sometimes undeserved promotion of “Africanistas” culminated in the creation of the Boards of Defense. The Conservative cabinet of Eduardo Dato was determined to impose military juntas and accepted that some were against military
Read MoreThe Second Spanish Republic: A Tumultuous Journey
The Second Spanish Republic
The Interim Government
The interim government aimed to include a broad representation of the Republic’s political landscape. Three main groups emerged: the monarchist right, the extreme left, and the Basque nationalists.
The Church strongly opposed the Republic, primarily due to its secular nature and the abolishment of the monarchy. Cardinal Segura viewed the Republic as an anti-clerical regime. This sentiment fueled strong anti-clericalism, leading to violence against
Read MoreThe 1929 Stock Market Crash and the Great Depression
The Roaring Twenties and the Crash
In the 1920s, America exuded confidence and economic expansion. Optimism fueled speculation in the New York Stock Exchange, where stock values quadrupled in a decade. Instead of reinvesting profits into industries, many sought quick gains in the stock market. The U.S. banking system, comprised of small, dispersed banks, encouraged this dynamic by lending to brokers who, in turn, financed investors.
This system, built on mutual trust, crumbled on October 24, 1929
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