Spain's Restoration: Alfonso XII & Cánovas

Spain's Bourbon Restoration (1874)

The Republic faced significant resistance and lacked a broad social base on which to support itself. Power was held by Union and Progress, led by General Serrano, who attempted to stabilize a conservative republican regime. But the social base had already opted for the Alfonsine solution: the return of the son of Isabel II.

On December 29, 1874, the military pronunciamiento by Martínez Campos at Sagunto proclaimed Alfonso XII King of Spain. Isabel II had previously abdicated in favor of her son. On December 1, Prince Alfonso de Borbón had signed the *Sandhurst Manifesto*, written by Cánovas del Castillo, which synthesized the agenda of the new Alfonsine monarchy: a conservative Catholic regime that would ensure the functioning of the liberal political system and restore political stability and social order, based on the alternation of power between two large liberal parties.

Cánovas's Political System

The constitution did not stipulate the type of vote, but a census-based suffrage law was established, limited to the largest taxpayers. It proclaimed the state as Catholic, although other denominations could not express their faith publicly. It included a lengthy bill of rights, such as the rights of the press, expression, association, and assembly.

Cánovas introduced a system of government based on bipartisanship and the alternation in power of the two great dynastic parties: the Conservative and the Liberal. This was a '*pacific turn*' (*turno pacífico*), a pact between parties that would ensure institutional stability through the participation in power of the two political families. The army was subordinate to civil power. They defended the monarchy, the constitution, private property, and the consolidation of a unitary and centralist liberal state.

Society and Caciquismo

Their social and economic base consisted of elites and the middle class. They were minority parties. Vote tampering (*caciquismo*) was facilitated by the restoration of census suffrage. The local bosses (*caciques*) were notable people; they could be lawyers, professionals of prestige, or civil servants.

After Alfonso XII: Pact of El Pardo

Following the death of King Alfonso XII, an agreement was reached between the Conservatives and Liberals, known as the *Pact of El Pardo*. Its aim was to support the regency of María Cristina and ensure the continuity of the monarchy against Carlists and strong pressure from Republicans.

Sagasta's Liberal Reforms

During Sagasta's government (1885-1890), the Liberals undertook significant reforms, including:

• The abolition of slavery
• The introduction of trial by jury
• The enactment of a new civil code
• Treasury and military reforms
• The introduction of universal male suffrage

The electoral register was extended to all men over 25 years of age.

Republican Opposition

Republicans were sharply divided into various factions, which limited their effective political and electoral support. The most notable adaptation was by Castelar, who evolved into increasingly moderate positions. Convinced that the Restoration would ensure social order, he believed that the monarchy could adopt some democratic principles and created the Possibilist Republican Party.