Spain's Restoration Era: Alfonso XII and Political Stability

Spain's Restoration Era: Alfonso XII and Political Stability (1874-1931)

On December 29, 1874, King Alfonso XII of Spain was proclaimed monarch, supported by an interim government led by Antonio Cánovas del Castillo, which garnered widespread approval. This marked the beginning of the Spanish Restoration period, an era characterized by political stability and a new constitutional framework.

The Third Carlist War (1872-1876)

During this period, the Third Carlist War was ongoing. Don Carlos attempted to establish a stable and independent government in Estella. Alfonso XII offered amnesty to all combatants willing to abandon the conflict. Ramón Cabrera, a high-ranking Carlist army commander, accepted the offer, a fact that helped end armed Carlist uprisings. Carlist positions increasingly advocated for greater autonomy, characterized by their opposition to Liberal governments and defense of traditional charters (fueros). As repressive measures, the government increased state intervention in conquered territories.

Cánovas's Bipartisan System and Cuban Pacification

Cánovas promoted a bipartisan system, inspired by the English model, featuring two major political parties: the Conservative Party (led by Cánovas) and the Liberal Party (led by Práxedes Mateo Sagasta). This bipartisanship was consolidated after the death of Alfonso XII, leading to a political shift known as the 'Turno Pacífico' (peaceful rotation of power) that continued until Cánovas's assassination in 1897. The era also saw the pacification of Cuba, following the 'Cry of Yara,' through the Peace of Zanjón, which granted Cubans similar rights to those of peninsular Spaniards.

The Constitution of 1876

The Constitution of 1876 featured a blend of conservative and liberal principles, providing a flexible framework that allowed political parties to enact laws aligning with their ideologies. Key tenets included:

• A Catholic confessional state.
• The monarch's shared governance with the Cortes (parliament).
• Laws designed to ensure the stability of the two-party system and prevent uprisings.

Electoral Practices and Caciquismo

During this time, elections were rarely transparent. When the president was forced to resign, the King would entrust the opposition with forming a new government. This new government would then dissolve the Cortes and call for elections, which were often pre-arranged through electoral manipulation (known as caciquismo or chieftaincy) to ensure a peaceful transfer of power between the two main parties.

Spain's "Silver Age" (1875-1936)

The period between 1875 and 1936 is known as the "Silver Age" of Spain, a time of significant cultural and scientific flourishing. Notable figures include:

• Santiago Ramón y Cajal, who won the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1906.
• Marcelino Menéndez Pelayo, who dedicated his life to Spanish scholarship and literature from a Catholic and conservative perspective.
• Benito Pérez Galdós, who, through his naturalistic works, denounced the oligarchy.
• Joaquín Sorolla, who painted naturalistic pictures, often with social themes.

The Free Institution of Education (Institución Libre de Enseñanza) was established, operating as a secular university and secondary school that fostered free discussion. Regional nationalisms also emerged, inspiring writers to create art in their native languages, exemplified by the Renaixença in Catalonia and the Rexurdimento in Galicia.