Spain's Political Turmoil: 1868-1878

The Democratic Administration (1868-1874)

The Revolution of September

In September 1868, Queen Isabella II left the throne because of the outbreak of the September Revolution, known as "The Glorious".

Formation of a Provisional Government

Chaired by General Serrano, but with General Prim as the strongman, a provisional government was formed. Constituent elections were called and won by monarchists. To win, the monarchists promoted the creation of a constitution that recognized the right of *illegal legislables* (rights that the legislature understood that they could not legislate because it had the right man for the very fact of human nature) and three reprimands the division of powers, but the monarchy retained executive power. The government made major economic decisions, such as establishing the peseta as the monetary unit, allowing the investment of foreign capital, and implementing a tariff-free trade policy that lowered the price of imports.

The Reign of Amadeus I (1870-1873)

Amadeus, Duke of Aosta, accepted the position as king. However, before he arrived in Spain, General Prim was murdered. Amadeus I was unsupported and was unable to control the major economic crisis. He decided to abdicate in 1873.

The First Republic (1873-1874)

When Amadeus I left, the *Cortes* (Spanish Parliament) proclaimed the Republic, which lasted eleven months and had four different presidents. Threatened by the Carlist monarchists and with little support, the Republicans experienced a strong confrontation between *unionists* and *federalists*. The *federalists* seemed to prevail (for Constituent Assembly elections in 1873) and proposed a federal structure similar to that of Germany (Germany became a federal state in 1871). The Republic ended when General Pavia staged a spectacular coup, with horses entering the conference, and without significant resistance, appointed General Serrano as president.

Third Carlist War (1872-1876)

Parallel to these events, the Third Carlist War occurred. The new pretender, Charles VII, had returned the respective institutions. General Francis Savall, despite his efforts, suffered a military defeat in the Basque-Navarre area and fostered a new failure of absolutism.

The AIT in Spain

In 1868, the labor movement was revitalized with the powerful introduction of the AIT (International Workers Association) in Spain. Many trade unions joined, but the division between Anarchist Communists and Marxist Bakuninists affected the movement very negatively.

The Long War (1868-1878)

In 1868, a portion of Creoles in Cuba began an independence movement. A fierce war, known as the Long War, lasted ten years and ended with the defeat of the revolutionaries. The conflict did not end until 1898 when the United States decided to intervene, precipitating the independence of the island.