Spain's Six Years of Revolution and Instability (1868-1874)

The Revolutionary Sexenio: Spain, 1868–1874

Causes of the 1868 Revolution

Unrest provoked the revolution. The economic crisis was of great intensity, characterized by three major events:

• A financial crisis.
• An agricultural crisis.
• The alarming increase in unemployment.

The political crisis was equally important. The Elizabethan regime had become increasingly reactionary in the hands of a clique of Moderates, to whom the Queen showed clear favoritism. In August 1866, Progressives and Democrats signed the Pact of Ostend, aiming to remove the Queen and establish a new political system.

The Glorious Revolution and Provisional Government

The Glorious Revolution, which began on September 17, 1868, started with the revolt of Admiral Topete, supported by Generals Prim and Serrano. The movement spread rapidly. Shortly after, Serrano's forces defeated the government army, and Isabel II fled to France.

A provisional government was established, headed by Serrano. Once the Constitution of 1869 was approved, Serrano was appointed Regent. Additionally, Prim became Head of State (Prime Minister).

Universal suffrage elections were called for the following January. During the revolution, there were two large sociopolitical blocks:

1. The Provisional Government Supporters: Progressives, Unionists, and moderate Democrats, who identified with the ideas of the provisional government.
2. The Republicans: Supported by the masses, they sought more radical political changes and whose goal was economic and social justice.

Serrano began the search for a suitable candidate for the throne.

The Reign of Amadeo I (Amadeus of Savoy)

Finally, Amadeus of Savoy was proclaimed King by the Cortes. Republicans hoped to use Amadeo's reign to implement a federal republic.

The most distinctive feature of his brief reign was the continuing social and political instability (three elections and six governments in two years) due to several serious problems:

• The assassination of Prim, victim of an attack. Prim had been the King's biggest supporter.
• Poor support from political parties. The monarchy-democratic coalition (Liberal Unionists, Progressives, and Democrats) suffered internal division, splitting into several factions and two new parties: the Constitutionalist Party led by Sagasta and the Radical Party led by Zorrilla. The Constitutionalists, though conservative, favored maintaining the democratic system, unlike the Radicals.
• Widespread unrest, including the outbreak of the Third Carlist War and the Ten Years' War (1868–1878) in Cuba.

For these reasons, after just two years, Amadeo abdicated the crown and left Spain.