Spain’s Restoration (1874-1902): Constitution, Politics, and Power
The Spanish Restoration (1874-1902)
The Constitution of 1876
The Constituent Assembly, elected through universal male suffrage to ensure representation from all parties, was tasked with developing a new constitution for Spain. After extensive debate, the constitution was adopted on February 15, 1876. Promulgated in June 1876 by Alonso Martínez, the constitution originated from a draft developed by a 600-member committee appointed by Cánovas del Castillo from previous legislatures. A 39-member committee,
Read MoreFascism and Nazism in Europe (1919-1945)
ITEM 10: Fascism and Democracy
1. Fascism and the Context
1.1 The Right-Wing Authoritarian
In the early twentieth century, Europe was characterized by:
- War
- Revolutions
- Depression
Many accused liberalism of causing this instability:
- Failed to prevent war
- Failed to prevent revolutions
- Failed to prevent economic depression
The right-wing sought to impose state authority over the masses. It supported authoritarianism in:
- Private classes or privileged groups such as:
- Nobility
- Landowners
- Big business
- Institutions that
The Bipolar World Order and Its Aftermath
The goal was to create decent living conditions for all people, from birth to death. This meant the creation of mechanisms to protect the public from disease, old age, accidents, and unemployment. The states that supported these systems were called welfare states.
Bipolar Order in a Cold War World (1945-1973)
One major consequence of World War II was the shift of the international center of power away from Europe. The USA and the Soviet Union rose as new world powers, extending their control over
Read MoreSpain’s Democratic Experiment (1868-1874): Revolution to Republic
Spain’s Democratic Experiment (1868-1874)
The Six-Year Democracy and the First Republic
1. The Revolution of 1868
Several factors led to the 1868 Revolution:
- Economic: The Catalan textile industry declined due to the American Civil War’s impact on cotton supply. Railway investments proved unprofitable, the stock market plummeted, and subsistence crises occurred in 1866 and 1867.
- Political: Opposition to moderate governments and Queen Isabella II strengthened, leading to the Pact of Ostend (1866) between
18th Century Europe: From Absolutism to Enlightenment
1. The 18th Century in Europe
Master’s Agriculture
From an economic perspective, agriculture dominated. Subsistence farming and a three-year crop rotation system with fallow were common. Crops dictated the rhythm of an economy vulnerable to subsistence crises—periods of food shortages and price increases. These crises caused hunger, misery, and sometimes riots. The nobility and clergy, owning vast inherited estates, controlled the land. Most people were peasants, working their masters’ lands and
Read MoreSpain’s Political Turmoil: Reign of Alfonso XIII (1900-1920s)
The Reign of Alfonso XIII (1900-1920s)
During the last quarter of the 19th century, Spain experienced a period of stability thanks to the Restoration. However, throughout the early 20th century, during the reign of Alfonso XIII, emerging forces struggled to find a place within the established Canovist party system.
Causes of the Restoration System Crisis
At the beginning of the 20th century, following the colonial disaster of 1898, a sense of regeneration and the need for reforms swept through the
Read More