Spain's Restoration Era: Political System, Problems & Crisis (1877-1931)

1. Baldomero Espartero and the Overthrow of the Monarchy (1877-1902)

The Political System of the Restoration

The political system of the Restoration was based on two pillars: the Constitution of 1876 and the alternating power between two main political parties: the Conservative Party and the Liberal Party.

• The Constitution of 1876 was moderate but flexible, preventing any single party from drastically altering it. It established a wide range of rights, affirmed the sovereignty of the King, and divided power between the Courts and the governing party, with suffrage specified by the governing party.
• The system aimed for a peaceful transfer of power. When the government became unpopular, the King would request the opposition leader to form a new government. However, this system relied heavily on election fraud and manipulation.

Problems of the Restoration

The Restoration system faced several significant problems:

• Exclusion of Opposition Parties: Carlist, Republican, and Democratic parties were left outside the system.
• Regionalism: Rising regionalist sentiments, particularly in Catalonia, the Basque Country, and Andalusia, challenged the central government. Catalan nationalists sought official recognition of the Catalan language and greater autonomy. The Basques aimed to defend their traditions and charters, while Andalusians addressed economic and social issues.
• Rise of the Workers' Movement: Socialism expanded, leading to the founding of the UGT and the PSOE. Anarchism also gained traction, with the establishment of the FTRE.
• The Crisis of 1898: Spain lost its last colonies: Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines.

2. Crisis of the Liberal State: The Reign of Alfonso XIII (1902-1931)

Maintenance of Party Rotation (1902-1917)

Between 1902 and 1917, the rotation system between the parties was maintained by two leaders: Antonio Maura of the Conservative Party and José Canalejas of the Liberal Party. Both attempted to combat caciquismo (political bossism) but were ultimately unsuccessful.

The Tragic Week in Barcelona was the most significant internal problem of this period. Reservists were mobilized against the war in Morocco, where Spain sought to establish a protectorate.