Spain: From Bourbon Monarchy to Restoration (1804-1888)

The Crisis of the Bourbon Monarchy (1804-1814)

King Charles IV declared war on France, resulting in a disastrous outcome. Minister Manuel Godoy sought an alliance with Napoleon against Great Britain and attacked Portugal. Public discontent forced Godoy's resignation, and Charles IV abdicated in favor of his son, Ferdinand VII. Napoleon summoned both to France, paving the way for his brother, Joseph Bonaparte, to become the new Spanish king.

The War of Independence (1804-1814)

A popular revolt erupted in Madrid against French rule. Juntas and a Supreme Central Junta were formed to coordinate the resistance. Guerrilla groups emerged, and cities held firm against the invaders. British troops, led by Wellington, provided crucial support. By the end of 1813, the Treaty of Valençay was signed.

Restoration of Absolutism

Ferdinand VII returned to Spain in 1814. Despite liberal attempts to reinstate the Constitution of 1812, he chose absolutism. A coup d'état dissolved parliament, nullified the constitution, and reinstated the Ancien Régime. Many liberals fled the country.

The Liberal Triennium (1820-1823)

Colonel Riego's military uprising in 1820 initiated the Liberal Triennium. Ferdinand VII was compelled to accept the Constitution of 1812. The new parliament restored liberal reforms from Cádiz and established the National Militia. The king sought foreign intervention, leading to the intervention of the Holy Alliance in France. In 1823, one hundred thousand Sons of Saint Louis reinstated Ferdinand VII as an absolute monarch.

Causes of Independence in the Americas

• The spread of liberal ideas and principles of freedom and equality.
• The successful revolution in the US.
• Dissatisfaction among Criollos (people born in the Americas with unmixed Spanish descent) who viewed Spain's economic policies as detrimental to American interests.

The Carlist War

The Carlist Absolutists: The agrarian nobility, clergy, and peasants from the northeast supported the Ancien Régime and the Catholic Church's supremacy.

The Isabelline Liberals: The monarchy, court nobility, liberal bourgeoisie, urban classes, and some peasants supported Queen Isabella II and her daughter, seeking a return to liberal government and a constitutional monarchy. Liberals approved the Royal Statute of 1834.

Constitution of 1845 and Concordat of 1853

The Constitution of 1845 established shared sovereignty between the crown and parliament. In 1853, an agreement with the Catholic Church made Spain a confessional state.

The Restoration

:-canovas system. the conservatuve party, it was led by canovas and supported political stagnation, the defense of the church and the established social order. the liberl party it was directed by mateo praxedes sagasta, that supported democratic, secular and social reform.

The nationalism. –catalonia: the movement claimed the catalan language and culture and this resulted in the creation of political partiessuch as unio catalanista. -Basque country: the obolition of some ancient laes after the carlist defeat created as anti-spanish protest movement that culminated in thecreation of the nationalist basque party. –galicia: Gallegan nationalism remained for many years as a cultural movement with few political repercussions.

Labour movement in spain:-anarchism:, was the most important . this ideology was followed by workers in catalonia and the andalusian peasantry. spanish anarchism was violent and they carried out many terrorist attack. these atacks caused the information of anarchist groups opposed to violence, which founded trade unions : CNT. -Socialism: had more influence among the proletariat of madrid, the basque country and asturias. socialists founded the psoe in 1879 and the ugt in 1888.