The Spanish Constitution of 1869: A Democratic Turning Point
The Spanish Constitution of 1869
Historical Context
The Constitution of 1869, the first democratic constitution in the history of Spain, was enacted on June 5, 1869. This period marked the end of conservatism under the Liberal Union. The alternating power structure and repressive measures led to widespread unpopularity and military uprisings, including those led by General Prim. Progressives, Democrats, and eventually Unionists, united to overthrow Queen Isabella II and establish a new government through a Constituent Cortes.
The revolution began with a pronouncement in Cadiz led by Admiral Topete in 1868. General Prim returned from exile and the first revolutionary junta was established. Subsequent juntas, like the one in Seville, formulated core principles: universal suffrage, freedom of the press, abolition of the death penalty, and more. On October 8, a Provisional Government was formed, comprised of progressives like Prim, Figueroa, Ruiz Zorrilla, and Sagasta. This government implemented various measures, including the introduction of the peseta as the monetary unit.
Analysis of the Constitution of 1869
Division of Powers
: The power is divided into three: Legislative power: According to Article 34, legislative power resides in the courts composed of two chambers, the Congress and the Senate, chosen universal suffrage. However, the Senate was elitist and conservative. The executive: the formula was adopted the king reigns but does not govern. Executive power is vested in the King who exercises it through his ministers, limiting the monarch to enact laws. In addition, the King may suspend the courts only once per term. Judiciary: The judicial power resides in the courts of justice, which are independent and democratic with the introduction of jury trials. – Sovereignty: According to Article 32, the sovereignty resides in the nation, ie the people .- Suffrage: The Constitution declares direct universal suffrage for men over 25 .- Religion: According to Article 21, the State is obliged to maintain the cult and the ministers of the Catholic religion, but faith is not declared. It also recognizes religious freedom .- Individual Rights: The text includes constitutional rights were not considered in earlier and picked up the ability to integrate new rights not appear in the Constitution itself. This reflects the democratic nature of the constitution from 1860 to 1869.A economic crisis and political crisis led to an unstable situation. The financial crisis originated because railway investments were not profitable. The industrial crisis arose because the U.S. had stopped its exports of cotton, and prices rose a lot.Many small cotton industries had to close, especially in Catalonia because it was paralyzed in Rome cotton exports from the USA, to develop the war of succession in this country. The wine subsistence crisis caused by a shortage of wheat. ODonnel suppressed in 1866 during a revolt in the barracks of San Gil. ODonnel was removed from government, following cabinets moderate but did not solve problems. Given the situation, some progressive Democrats and unionists signed the Pact of Ostend, which set out the minimum basis for revolutionary action. In 1868, in Cadiz, and Prim Topete mutinied against the government of Isabel II. Revolutionary Boards were formed. Government and the Crown only had the support of the small camarills located around them. When troops loyal to the government were defeated, Elizabeth II went into exile. Revolutionary boards and the popular movement assumed leadership of the revolt and consolidated the delivery. The signatories of the Pact of Ostend formed a Provisional Government, ordered the Boards and dissolved the National Militia disarmed. Following the abdication of Amadeus of Savoy, the courts decided to vote on the proclamation of a republic, which was adopted in 1873. At first had problems. His only supporters were Republicans, as represented in Parliament by the Federal Democratic Republican Party of Francisco Pi i Maragall. Federalism, born as a splitting of the Democratic Party, defended the Republic and the Spanish government proposed to articulate a set of counties, through partnerships between the various peoples and regions. The Federalists were in favor of secularism of the state, the extension of democratic rights and state intervention in the regulation of liberal conditions. Had the support of the petty bourgeoisie and part of the peasant movement and labor. Following the proclamation of the Republic Revolutionary Boards were formed and there were popular uprisings calling for the abolition of consumption or the Fifth. Republican leaders Boards and dissolved called Constituent Assembly Elections. We defined the country as a Republic fedral and this was reflected in a Constitution similar to that of 1869. For the Republic had problems: the conflict accelerated and continued Carlist War in Cuba, where authorities have favored the restoration of the Bourbons on the throne in the person of Alfonso XII. There were areas which were influenced by anarchism, rose in separate cantons. Pi i Maragall resigned and was replaced by Salmeron, who also left the cabinet and was replaced by Castelar. The growing populations across the country experienced during the reign of Elizabeth II also reached Extremadura. Thus there was a growing rural population, who pushed hard on the only productive resource land. The Revolution of 1868 raised expectations of change in large segments of the population and the social question of the field became the most typical of the problems of the region. At the root of the problem included a large population of private land, which had seen a large private hands that were communal. After the pronouncement in Cadiz, Extremadura army remained loyal to Elizabeth II. In some areas appeared armed bands of civilians who did not represent any problem for military authorities. However, once accomplished the defeat of the troops in Elizabethan Alcolea, there was acceptance of the revolutionary, forming local boards in each capital and was a Senior Examining Board rectify the situation and, above all, to ensure compliance property.