First Spanish Republic: Political Turmoil and Collapse

Proclamation of the First Spanish Republic

In 1873, the Spanish Senate and Congress, united as the National Assembly, decided the future of Spain and proclaimed the First Spanish Republic.

Key Characteristics and Challenges

The transition from monarchy to republic was fraught with difficulties, leading to its eventual failure. Key features and challenges included:

• The transition from monarchy to republic proved to be a failure.
• Significant division among republicans, particularly between unionists and federalists.
• The rise of cantonalism, a radical form of federalism, which led to widespread unrest.
• Varying interpretations of the Republic's purpose across different social groups:
  • Farmers hoped for solutions to the "myth of land distribution."
  • Nationalists sought a distinct state.
  • Catalan workers desired a workers' democracy.
  • The middle class often favored a return to the Alfonsine monarchy, even while supporting the Republic.

Presidents of the First Spanish Republic

Estanislao Figueras (February - June 1873)

The first president of the Republic was Estanislao Figueras. His brief tenure was marked by numerous uprisings and the struggle to establish military control. The proclamation of the Federal Republic ultimately led to his resignation.

Francisco Pi i Margall (June - July 1873)

The second president was Francisco Pi i Margall, a staunch defender and theorist of federalism. His presidency was plagued by various social problems and regional demands:

• Demands for land in Córdoba.
• The proclamation of a Catalan state based in Barcelona.
• Abolition of the Excise Tax.
• The ongoing Carlist War (1872-1876).
• Significant problems in Andalusia and the rise of cantonalism in Valencia.

Despite his efforts, the courts failed to provide security, and Pi i Margall resigned.

Nicolás Salmerón (July - September 1873)

The third president was Nicolás Salmerón. As cantonal movements and the Carlist War generalized, Salmerón asserted the need to implement authority and restore order. He used the army as a repressive force to control the cantons, notably in Andalusia, Málaga, and Cartagena (though Cartagena remained a stronghold). This approach, however, led to a loss of interest among the popular classes. Cantonal leaders were sentenced to death, but Salmerón refused to sign their death warrants and subsequently resigned.

Emilio Castelar (September 1873 - January 1874)

The fourth president was Emilio Castelar, a strong advocate for applying state authority to maintain order. His administration implemented repressive measures, primarily through the courts. He faced a motion of no confidence, which he lost, leading to his resignation.

The Unapproved Constitution of 1873

The proposed Constitution of 1873 was never formally approved. It included:

• A comprehensive bill of rights, similar to the 1869 Constitution.
• Provisions for national sovereignty.
• An organizational framework for the different states of the Republic.

End of the First Republic and the Restoration

Marshal Francisco Serrano (January - December 1874)

Following Castelar's loss of the motion of no confidence, General Manuel Pavía staged a military coup in January 1874. This coup led to the appointment of Marshal Francisco Serrano as the fifth and final President of the Republic, marking a shift towards a more authoritarian form of government.

Serrano, a prominent figure from the 1868 Revolution alongside politicians like Zavala, Topete, and Sagasta, pursued several key policies:

• Dissolution of the International Association of Workers.
• Attempts to suppress the cantonal uprisings.
• Strengthening of the military.
• Continued struggle to control the Carlist War.

Ultimately, General Arsenio Martínez Campos staged another military coup in December 1874, which effectively ended the First Spanish Republic and initiated the Bourbon Restoration under the leadership of Antonio Cánovas del Castillo.