Spanish Restoration: The 1876 Constitution and Politics

The Spanish Constitution of 1876

The Constitution of 1876 established a framework where sovereignty was shared between the King and the Cortes. It featured a significant extension in the proclamation of individual and collective rights, which were to be developed in subsequent legislation.

Key Legislative and Executive Features

• Legislative Power: Resided in the Cortes and the King. The Cortes were bicameral, consisting of a Senate (composed of royal appointees or members elected by corporations and major contributors) and an elected Congress.
• Executive Power: Vested in the Crown, which chose the ministers; these ministers were held accountable to the Cortes.
• Local Governance: Local councils remained dependent on the central government.
• Religious Status: The document recognized Spain as a Catholic confessional country, establishing state maintenance for worship and the clergy.

The Reign of Alfonso XII (1875–1885)

The Third Carlist War

During the First Republic, the Carlists had established control over the Basque Country, Navarre, Northern Catalonia, and parts of Maestrazgo, Levante, and Extremadura. Alfonso XII participated in the war and successfully reclaimed these territories. By 1876, the Carlist forces were defeated, leading to the flight of Charles VII.

Insurgency in Cuba

During the reign of Amadeo I, Cubans rebelled to demand autonomy. The First Republic failed to resolve the conflict. Upon taking power, Alfonso XII intervened by sending Martínez Campos to negotiate with rebel leaders. This led to the Pact of Zanjón, under which the rebels agreed to cease fighting. In return, Martínez Campos granted a general amnesty, freedom for slaves, and the opportunity for Cubans to participate in the Madrid government. However, this agreement merely prolonged the issue rather than resolving it.

The Regency of Maria Cristina

Political Stability and the Pacto del Pardo

King Alfonso XII died in November 1885, leaving his pregnant wife, Maria Cristina, as regent. To ensure system stability and support the regency, political leaders Cánovas and Sagasta reached the Pacto del Pardo. This agreement facilitated turnismo (the peaceful alternation of power) and eliminated certain legislation from previous governments.

Social Conquests and Political Reality

This period saw several democratic achievements, including:

• Freedom of the press and greater freedom of expression.
• Freedom of association.
• The introduction of trial by jury.
• Universal male suffrage for those over 25 years of age.

Despite these reforms, the real political situation was characterized by caciquismo (chieftaincy) and electoral fraud, ensuring the majority of the population remained uninvolved in actual policy-making.

The Emergence of Regional Nationalism

A defining phenomenon of this phase was the rise of nationalist political movements in Catalonia, the Basque Country, Valencia, Galicia, and Andalusia, with the strongest movements appearing in Catalonia and the Basque Country.

Catalan and Basque Nationalist Movements

In Catalonia, nationalist sentiment grew significantly. During the reign of Alfonso XII, the bourgeoisie and intellectuals requested a charter of liberties, though Sagasta opposed it. In 1892, the movement developed the Bases of Manresa.

In the Basque Country, Sabino Arana founded the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV). While he initially called for secession from the state, he eventually moved away from pure separatism.