Spain's History: From Revolution to Restoration 1868-1890

Item 4: Spain's History from 1868 to 1890

The Glorious Revolution and its Aftermath

After the Glorious Revolution occurred in Cadiz, where General Prim defeated the troops of Queen Elizabeth II, she was exiled to France in 1868. The courts adopted a democratic constitution and monarchy that included:

• Universal male suffrage
• Religious freedom
• The division of powers: executive, legislative, and judicial
• Party fragmentation

King Amadeo I of Savoy faced a difficult situation after the start of the war in Cuba and the Third Carlist War. He abdicated in 1873.

The First Spanish Republic

The First Republic was established with Francisco Pi y Margall as president. The country's continuing instability and the constitution that was created for the Republic did not come to pass.

1.1 The Cantonalist Insurrection

The insurrection was carried out by diehard Republicans and led to the definitive collapse of the Republic. The head of the executive branch, Emilio Castelar, sent the army into the streets to restore order. General Manuel Pavía staged a coup and established a provisional government that favored the monarchy and the crowning of Alfonso XII (son of Elizabeth II) as king.

1.2 The Bourbon Restoration

Under Prime Minister Antonio Canovas del Castillo, the state became much more tolerant, liberal, democratic, and monarchist. A system of alternating governments was established between the two main parties: the Conservatives and the Liberals.

A liberal constitution was adopted in 1876, and universal male suffrage was adopted in 1890. The period of the Restoration was calm, but political problems of fraud were evident in the late period. The regime was characterized by oligarchy, and rigged elections were denounced by Joaquín Costa.

People lived in deplorable conditions, and those fed up with this situation began to believe in socialist and anarchist politics. Peripheral nationalisms also emerged, such as in Catalonia (advocating for a federal state) and the Basque Country.

1.3 The Overseas Disaster

Uprisings against the Spanish government occurred in Cuba and the Philippines. The United States, due to its interest in the independence of Cuba and the sinking of the USS Maine in the port of Havana, entered into war with Spain, which Spain lost.

Spain signed the Treaty of Paris, which recognized the independence of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines.