The Restoration of the Monarchy in Spain: 1876-1898

As soon as there was resistance from the Republic, it had a social base on which it was sustained. The power of the Union and Progress, led by General Serrano, attempted to stabilize a conservative republic. However, the social base had opted for the Alfonsina solution: the return of a new model of liberalism with an endemic precedent. This included the partisan and exclusionary nature of moderate military interventionism in politics and the proliferation of civil strife. There were two objectives: to develop a constitution that structured a bipartisan political system and to pacify the country by ending the war in Cuba and the Carlist conflict.

The first policy measure was the convening of elections for a Constituent Assembly, as the constitution of 1869 had been terminated after the proclamation of the republic. The first election of the new regime was to be done by universal suffrage, later reverting to a census-based suffrage. The 1876 constitution is a clear sign of doctrinal liberalism, with a census-based suffrage and power-sharing between the courts and the king. It was markedly conservative and inspired by the historical values of the traditional monarchy, religion, and property.

The courts were made up of the Senate and the Congress of Deputies; the latter was an elective office. The constitution did not stipulate the type of voting, but a census-based law was established, limited to the largest taxpayers. It proclaimed the Catholic confessional state, although other religions could not be expressed publicly. It had a neat statement of law, such as printing, expression, association, and assembly.

Cánovas' Bipartisan System

Cánovas del Castillo introduced a system of government based on bipartisanship and the alternation in power of two dynastic parties: the Conservative and Liberal parties. It was a tacit pact between the parties that would ensure institutional stability through the participation in power of the two families. The army was subordinate to civil power.

End of the Carlist and Cuban Wars

The end of the Carlist War allowed for an easier end to the Cuban insurrection. As a result of military action and negotiation with the insurgents, the Peace of Zanjón was affirmed. The delay or failure of these reforms would lead to the beginning of a new conflict in 1879 (the Little War) and the subsequent uprising in 1895.

They defended the monarchy, the constitution, private property, and the consolidation of the liberal state, which was unitary and centralist. Their social base was the economic elites and the middle class. The parties were acting as minorities in both parties. There was a tacit agreement never to enact a law that would force the other party to repeal it when they returned to the government. The alternation was intended to ensure institutional stability.

Electoral Manipulation and the *Pucherazo*

Local bosses, known as *caciques*, influenced the direction of the vote, thanking their electoral loyalty and discriminating against those who did not respect their interests. The *caciques* continually manipulated elections according to the authorities. They set electoral traps known as *pucherazo*. From 1876 to 1898, the system worked with regularity.

The Crisis of 1898

The first crisis of the Restoration came as a result of the disaster of 1898, which eroded the politicians and dynastic parties. After the death of King Alfonso XII, an agreement was imposed between conservatives and liberals called the Pact of El Pardo. Its purpose was to give support to the regency of Maria Cristina and ensure the continuity of the monarchy against the strong pressure from Carlists and Republicans.

Universal Male Suffrage

Undoubtedly, the most significant change was the introduction of universal male suffrage. The electoral register was extended to everyone over 25 years of age who would qualify to vote. The Republicans were sharply divided on several trends and lacked effective electoral support for their political program. The fastest adaptation was that of Castelar, who evolved into a more moderate position.