The Spanish Bourbon Restoration: 1874–1893 Political System
The Bourbon Restoration (December 1874)
The Bourbon monarchy was restored in December 1874 in the person of Alfonso XII. The new king arrived in Spain from the port of Barcelona (BCN). Antonio Cánovas del Castillo, the architect of the system, led the government and established the framework for the new regime.
The Canovista System and the 1876 Constitution
The political system had a conservative Canovista edge, based on a parliamentary system and liberal democracy, though its functioning was often flawed by electoral fraud and corruption.
The foundations of the Restoration were fixed in the Constitution of 1876, a moderate document resulting from a pact among the social elites. Key features included:
- Shared sovereignty between the Courts (Cortes) and the Crown.
- Bicameral legislature (Congress and Senate).
- Establishment of the Catholic state's confessionality.
- Recognition of a broad statement of rights.
- Establishment of census suffrage (suffrage censitario).
Pillars of Stability
The fundamental stability of the new regime rested on three pillars:
- Political Parties: The system relied on the alternating power (turnismo) of the two main parties: the Conservatives and the Liberals.
- The Monarchy: An institution considered above partisan politics, acting as an arbitral decision-maker with a significant role in political life.
- The Army: The military was definitively distanced from political life, establishing the supremacy of civilian authority over the military.
The Pact of El Pardo and Liberal Reforms (1885–1890)
In 1885, the Pact of El Pardo was signed, initiating a period of Liberal government led by Práxedes Mateo Sagasta (1885–1890). This period saw significant legislative reforms, including:
- Law abolishing slavery (1886).
- Law of Associations (1887).
- Universal male suffrage (1890).
Republicanism During the Restoration
Republicanism faced a significant decline in its followers during this period, yet it maintained a wide popular base and influential news organizations, such as the newspaper La Publicidad.
Republican Factions
Republicans were divided into several key factions:
- Possibilists: Followers of Emilio Castelar, who formed the Possibilist Party and chose to participate in the electoral game of the Restoration. Castelar was elected deputy for Barcelona in 1876.
- Progressive Republican Party: Followers of Luis Zorrilla.
- Unitary Republicans: Followers of Nicolás Salmerón, representing a more centralized and influential republicanism.
The Federal Republican Movement
The greatest strength and support came from the Federal Republican Party, led by Francisco Pi y Margall. In 1883, Pi y Margall convened the First Regional Federal Congress, which, aiming to reactivate the federalist movement, approved the basis for a proposed Catalan state.
Revival of Republicanism
The introduction of universal male suffrage in 1890 stimulated a revival of republicanism and its articulation, leading to the creation of the Republican Union (1893).