Spain's 1869 Constituent Assembly: Composition and Impact

Composition of the Constituent Assembly, 1869

Description and Interpretation of the 1869 Assembly

This semicircular sector chart illustrates a significant political event: the composition of the Constituent Assembly following the 1869 elections in Spain. It details the number of seats (representatives) secured by each political group that gained representation in the Cortes of 1869. A total of 351 deputies were distributed as follows:

• Progressive Party: 159 seats
• Liberal Union: 69 seats
• Federal Republican Party: 69 seats
• Democratic Party: 20 seats
• Carlist Party: 18 seats
• Isabelino Party: 14 seats
• Unitary Republicans: 2 seats (maintaining symbolic representation)

Historical Context: The 1868 Revolution and Suffrage

These election results emerged directly from the 1868 Revolution. The provisional government, formed by Progressives and Democratic Unionists (the same factions that signed the Pact of Ostend in 1866), called these elections. For the first time in Spanish history, the Cortes were elected by universal suffrage. This fulfilled a primary objective of the 1868 revolutionary committees: the democratization of political life and the implementation of agreements made by the Pact of Ostend signatories. However, despite being classified as universal suffrage, only men over 25 years of age were permitted to vote, which represented approximately 25% of the total population.

Analysis of the 1869 Election Results

Analyzing the chart, we can draw the following key conclusions:

1. The Progressive Party secured the largest number of deputies (159), but they did not achieve an absolute majority (176 seats were needed). The Liberal Union and Federal Republicans were the next largest blocs, each with 69 members. Further behind were other forces: the Democrats (20), Carlists (18), Isabelinos (14), and Unitary Republicans (2).

2. The coalition government, formed by the signatories of the Pact of Ostend, held an overwhelming majority over other groups. This coalition was an amalgamation of parties with diverse political options and no inherent ideological connection. This government would be responsible for drafting and pushing through the 1869 Constitution, which established the new political framework for Spain. Its prominent leaders, including Sagasta, Ruiz Zorrilla, Serrano, and Prim, primarily represented the social groups of the bourgeoisie and middle classes.