Spanish Political History: Anarchism, Marxism and Restoration

Anarchism vs. Marxism: Political Ideologies

Anarchists: Political action against the state, opposition to the formation of parties, defense of individualism, and rejection of authority and hierarchy. They advocate for the abolition of the state and the defense of spontaneous revolution and direct action. (Easy to understand).

Marxists: Supporters of political action, defending the formation of a working-class party. They advocate for an organized workers' revolution, the creation of a workers' state, and the dictatorship of the proletariat. (Very scientific).

Development of Anarchism and Socialism

Anarchism (1881)

Inspired by anarcho-collectivism and anarcho-communism.

• Objectives: Direct Action.
• Structure: Self-revolutionary groups.
• Organizations: Workers' Solidarity and the CNT.
• Events: Attacks against Cánovas del Castillo.

Socialism (1899)

Led by early Marxist promoters.

• Objective: To attain power.
• Structure: Organized through political parties.
• Organization: UGT.
• Events: Labor Day 1890.

Timeline of the Spanish Labor Movement

• 1820-1835: Start of the working class.
• 1814-1876: International era.
• 1874-1890: Consolidation of the worker movement.
• 1835: Creation of Vapor Bonaplanta.
• 1840: Creation of the Barcelona weavers' company.
• 1855: First general strike.
• 1868: Arrival of the AIT in Spain.
• 1870: First guilds of the Spanish AIT.
• 1883: Social Reform Commission.
• 1888: Foundation of the UGT.
• 1897: Montjuïc processes.

Foundations of the Canovista Political System

Based on the Conservative Constitution of 1876, with the Crown acting as a moderator and supported by the Army and the upper classes.

Key Objectives

• Establish internal order and defense.
• End the interference of the army in political life.
• Pacification of the country: Ending the Carlist War in 1876 through the abolition of Basque charters and ending the Cuban conflict via the Peace of Zanjón in 1878.

System Features

• Power-sharing: The "peaceful turn" (turnismo).
• Corruption: Systematic electoral fraud.
• Influence: The power of caciquismo.

The Cuban Conflict and Independence

Causes of the Conflict

• Political inequality between Spaniards and Cubans.
• Maintenance of slavery.
• Protectionism: Policies in the metropolis hindering the development of the Cuban economy.
• Inability of the administration to establish reforms on the island.

Key Players

• Autonomy: Proponents of island autonomy.
• Cuban Revolutionaries: Seeking the road to independence with support from the United States insurrection.

Key Dates in 19th Century Spanish History

• 1868-1877: Ten Years' War.
• 1872-1876: Third Carlist War.
• 1875-1885: Reign of Alfonso XII.
• 1878: Peace of Zanjón.
• 1879: Guerra Chiquita.
• 1885: Pact of El Pardo.
• 1885-1902: Regency of Maria Christina and minority of Alfonso XIII.
• 1888: Abolition of slavery.
• 1890: Universal male suffrage.
• 1894-1898: Philippine-American War and Cuban War.
• 1897: Assassination of Cánovas.