Restoration Spain and the Rise of Catalan Nationalism

The Restoration Period (1874–1898)

Following the First Republic, the 1874 coup by Campos Cánovas restored the monarchy under Alfonso XII (Sandhurst). Fearing radical workers and political instability, the system shifted significantly.

Key Political Features

• Constitution of 1876: Established census suffrage and limited rights.
• System Dynamics: The King acted as an arbitrator, while electoral fraud and blackmail became common.
• Marginalization: Radical parties were excluded from power.
• The 1898 Disaster: Marked by the 1878 and 1892 attempts, culminating in the sinking of the Maine and the loss of overseas colonies.

Implications: Economic instability, political disengagement, and the rising influence of the army and the Church.

The Catalan Renaissance and Political Movement

Origins of the Renaissance

Starting in 1833, the Renaixença sought to recover Catalan identity, national self-determination, and social equality against a repressive, centralized state. The movement utilized floral motifs and expanded through popular cultural expression.

Social Unrest and Revueltas

• Bullangues (1835): Popular uprisings to enforce revolutionary council powers.
• Jamàncies: Began as protests over bread prices and evolved into critiques of government policy.

Political Evolution

Federalism, championed by Pi i Maragall, advocated for decentralization. Valentí Almirall pushed for unified Catalan political doctrines, organizing conferences in 1880 and the 1883 Manifesto of Grievances. The Centre Català was founded in 1882.

The Rise of Catalanism

In 1887, conservatives like Domènech i Montaner and Guimerà formed the Lliga de Catalunya, demanding Catalan courts, a volunteer army, and education in the Catalan language. Narcís Verdaguer founded the Unió Catalanista, which produced the Bases de Manresa in 1892—a proposal for an autonomous statute that faced severe repression from Madrid.

The 1899 Crisis

Following the debt crisis of the American War, the Villaverde Reform led to a general strike in Barcelona. The bourgeoisie broke relations with the state after the government attempted to confiscate contributions. Simultaneously, traditionalist movements like Vigatabisme, led by Torras i Bages, gained influence through publications like La Tradició Catalana (1892).