Alfonso XII's Reign: Cánovas & the 1876 Constitution
The Path to Restoration
In January 1874, a military dictatorship under General Serrano was in place, alongside growing support for the Alfonsine cause. In December of that year, Prince Alfonso, then 17 years old, signed the Sandhurst Manifesto. Following this, monarchist generals Jovellar, Martínez Campos, and Antonio Cánovas del Castillo declared themselves in Sagunto on December 29th in favor of the monarchy. Cánovas subsequently appointed new governors and mayors, introduced censorship, and decreed the closure of Republican newspapers.
Key Events and End of Conflicts
Within two years of the Restoration's beginning, two significant wars initiated in the previous period concluded. In March 1876, the Carlists surrendered, an event marked by the Somorrostro Manifesto. In February 1878, the Ten Years' War in Cuba ended with the Peace of Zanjón.
The 1876 Constitution: A Conservative Framework
The 1876 Constitution is characterized as a flexible text, with its inspiration being doctrinaire and conservative.
Declaration of Rights and Duties
The declaration of rights and duties within the Constitution was broad, encompassing almost all the civil liberties achieved in 1869.
Powers of the State
Legislative Power: The Cortes
The Cortes (parliament) were bicameral. The upper chamber, the Senate, was composed of three types of senators: those by their own right (grandees of Spain, high-ranking military and clergy), those appointed by the monarch for life, and those elected by state corporations and the largest taxpayers.
Executive Power: The Crown and Ministers
The executive power was exercised by the Crown through its ministers, who were accountable to the Chambers (Cortes).
The Religious Question
The religious issue was resolved by officially recognizing the Catholic confessional status of the country while ensuring state financial support for the Catholic religion and its clergy. However, private practice of other religions was tolerated.
Antonio Cánovas del Castillo: Architect of Restoration
Antonio Cánovas del Castillo was the pivotal figure of the Restoration period.
Cánovas's Objectives
His primary objective was to firmly establish the monarchy. Secondly, the political system he designed aimed to accommodate all bourgeois parties, ensuring stability. A key aspect was that the army should return to its barracks and fulfill its constitutional mission, staying out of politics.
The Parliamentary System and Electoral Manipulation
The ideal parliamentary model envisioned by Cánovas was based on the existence of two major dynastic parties peacefully alternating in power, a system known as the turno pacífico. However, the constitutional operation was deliberately undermined by its own proponents, who systematically manipulated elections through an extensive network of "caciques" (local political bosses) and authorities spread throughout the country.
The Conservative Nature of the Restoration Regime
The Restoration regime was profoundly conservative in political, social, and economic spheres. The Crown had been restored by a coalition of conservative politicians, influential businessmen, and high-ranking military commanders. Initially, the new regime enjoyed broad popular support.
Political Developments and Party Dynamics
The Conservative Party, led by Cánovas, ruled until 1881. During this period, the 1876 Constitution was upheld, and repressive policies against opposition groups were often intensified. In May 1880, the Liberal Fusionist Party was founded, consolidating various liberal factions, including remnants of the old Progressive Party, under the leadership of Práxedes Mateo Sagasta.
In January 1881, Cánovas resigned, allowing the first Liberal Party government under Sagasta to take power. This marked an early instance of the turno pacífico in action, demonstrating the intended peaceful alternation of power between the two main parties.