Spain's Political Evolution: Monarchy to Republic & Canovista System

Democratic Monarchy

The Constitution of 1869 established the monarchy as a form of government, and a king had to be found. The elected king was Amadeus of Savoy, and a democratic conception of the role of the monarchy came to Spain in the late 1870s. Amadeus of Savoy always faced opposition from moderates, Carlists, and the Church, who remained faithful to the Bourbons. Many Democrats and some Republicans instigated insurrections in favor of the Republic. The new king had to face two outbreaks of armed conflict: an insurrection on the island of Cuba and a new Carlist war. Due to a lack of support and problems with the masses, Amadeus abdicated.

The First Republic

The Republic was born with scarce possibilities of success, but was received with enthusiasm by popular sectors of the cities. The Republicans had a broad program of social reforms and sought to organize the state into federal forms, with a division of legislative powers between the federal republic and federal municipalities. The Republic faced a number of problems. The Cuban and Carlist wars grew in importance. Divisions between the Federal Republic and the States made the government's actions difficult. The most radical sectors precipitated riots and social upheavals, such as in Cartagena, which was proclaimed an independent canton. Monarchist and conservative sectors did not accept the Republican regime and began to organize to restore the monarchy under Alfonso. In January 1874, General Pavia dissolved the Parliament and handed over the presidency to General Serrano. He tried to stabilize a regime that could garner social support, but had already opted for a return of the monarchy.

The Canovista System

It clearly had a conservative character, and the parliamentary system was based on a limited liberal democracy.

• The Conservative Party, led by Canovas, was in favor of political paralysis, the defense of the Church, and social order.
• The Liberal Party, led by Praxedes Mateo Sagasta, was inclined to a more democratic, secular, and social reformism.

The stability of the system was favored by the drafting of a new Constitution (1876) that showed a clear moderate character. It also helped that peace was achieved after the end of the Carlist War and the Cuban insurrection.

The Power

Conservatives and Liberals agreed to alternate in the exercise of power and controlled Spanish political life. This was possible because the government had nothing to do with winning elections, but rather the King would choose the party to form the government. This situation worked thanks to a corrupt electoral system that manipulated elections and did not hesitate to falsify records or buy votes. They used all kinds of coercive practices on the electorate, taking advantage of the political influence and economic power of certain individuals who exercised control over the whole of society, especially in rural areas.