The Democratic Sexennium in Spain (1868-1874)
The Democratic Sexennium (1868-1874)
The 1868 revolution, known as La Gloriosa, was a military coup with popular support. Local and provincial groups, organized as Volunteers of Liberty, joined the movement. The revolution’s success stemmed from aligning with numerous interests and the conspirators’ promises, including the abolition of unpopular taxes.
However, after Queen Isabella II’s exile, the conspirators, including Serrano, Prim, and Sagasta, moved to halt the revolution. The new government convened a Constituent Parliament elected by universal male suffrage.
A New Constitution and Monarchy
The elections focused on the form of state: monarchy or republic. The Parliament drafted a new Constitution, the first democratic one in Spanish history, establishing a parliamentary monarchy with a strict separation of powers. The document included a detailed bill of rights to prevent future restrictions. The issue of religion sparked intense debate. The Constitution affirmed full national sovereignty.
Serrano became regent, and Prim formed a government with progressives and some democrats. For a year and a half, they passed comprehensive legislation to develop the Constitution. In the economic field, they adopted a free trade policy and a monetary reform, establishing the peseta.
Challenges and Instability
The new regime faced a dual crisis: the war in Cuba and widespread social unrest. The Cuban crisis had been escalating for years, and Spain experienced continuous social turmoil.
In this volatile situation, Prim undertook the difficult task of finding a king. After failed attempts, Prince Amadeo of Savoy accepted the crown. Amadeo received the news of General Prim’s assassination upon his arrival.
Amadeo I’s reign was a failure due to Prim’s absence. Two years of unstable governments followed, marked by scandals, motions of censure, and electoral manipulation. The Cuban conflict escalated, and the Third Carlist War broke out.
The First Spanish Republic
After Congress endorsed the government, Amadeo submitted his resignation. The Republic was born irregularly, lacking adequate political support. Only the United States and Switzerland recognized the new regime internationally. Domestically, conservatives rejected the Republic, and even its supporters lacked a unified vision.
The republican movement was split between Federalists and Unionists. Early on, peasant uprisings occurred in Andalusia, and federalist insurrection attempts arose in Catalonia. The government also suppressed a coup attempt.
The May elections resulted in a Republican majority. Following Figueras’ unexpected resignation, Pi y Margall became president. The Cortes drafted the Constitution of 1873, but it never came into force due to the outbreak of the Cantonal Revolution.
Meanwhile, the Carlists advanced. Pi y Margall resigned on July 18th. The new president, Nicolás Salmerón, initiated a shift to the right. He was replaced by Emilio Castelar, who intensified the authoritarian turn. Castelar’s fall precipitated a coup planned by the conservative opposition and the generals.