- SPAIN: THE RESTORATION, LIBERALISM AND DEMOCRATIC IDEAS
THE REIGN OF FERNANDO VII (1814–1833)
The absolutist phase (1814–1820)
The liberal phase (1820–1823)
The ominous decade (1823–1833)
Fernando VII enjoyed the support of the Spanish people, the Cádiz Cortes and the absolutists
absolutists wanted a return to the Ancien Régime, as outlined in the Persian Manifesto
Fernando VII agreed with the absolutists' demands, so he dismissed the Cortes
abolished the Constitution of 1812 and re-established absolute monarchy
a period of political instability followed, as some liberals organised military coups designed to overthrow absolutism
1820, a coup led by Riego and Quiroga succeeded
Fernando VII was forced to reinstate the Constitution of 1812
guarantee the freedoms that had been suppressed during the previous phase
1823 Fernando VII asked the Holy Alliance for assistance
sent a French army, the 100 000 Sons of St Louis', who defeated the liberals
Fernando VII re-established the absolute monarchy and persecuted the liberals
Fernando VII proclaimed his Pragmatic Sanction
replaced Salic law, which had been in place since Felipe V's reign and which excluded females from the line of succession
Pragmatic Sanction meant that on Fernando VII's death, his daughter Isabel became queen
This angered Fernando's brother Carlos, and became a source of conflict
THE REIGN OF ISABEL II
The crown retained power, but this power was shared with the Cortes, which the crown could call and dissolve
The queen was supported by the liberal political parties, the Moderates and the Progressives
Various constitutions were approved, depending on which party was in government
Progressive constitution in 1837
Moderate constitution in 1845
military participated actively in politics, as heads of government and ministers, and also leading military revolts to acquire more power
1833 to 1843, when Isabel was still a minor, two regents governed in her name: her mother, María Cristina Bourbon, and General Espartero
first Carlist War (1833–1839)
because Fernando VII's brother Carlos claimed the throne
liberals supported Isabel II in exchange for the government becoming more liberal
1843 Isabel II reached the age of majority, although she was only 13 years old
alternation in power between the Moderates and Progressives
second Carlist War (1846–1849)
war was caused by Isabel II's refusal to marry Carlos Luis Bourbon, the Carlist claimant
If they had married, the succession dispute would have ended
Spain's division into 49 provinces
social instability caused by discontent among the peasants over poor working conditions
The crisis and the end of Isabel II's reign
manipulation of election results by successive governments
new political parties who opposed the monarchy
Democrats, who believed in universal manhood suffrage, and the Republicans, who wanted Spain to be a republic
poor harvests and by a halt in railway construction
unemployment increased and many small and medium investors were ruined
THE DEMOCRATIC SEXENNIUM (1868–1874)
The provisional government (1868–1870):
General Serrano, who was regent, and General Prim
They also called the Constituent Cortes in order to write a new constitution
The constitutional monarchy (1871 –1873):
Constitution of 1869 was 19th-century Spain's most democratic constitution
introduced universal manhood suffrage, freedom of religion, and guaranteed a range of other rights and freedoms
established a constitutional monarchy
Amadeo of Savoy, the son of the Italian king, Victor Emmanuel II, was named King Amadeo I of Spain
third Carlist War (1872–1876) began because the provisional government had not chosen the Carlist candidate, Carlos VII, as king
Amadeo abdicated because he faced opposition from both the Republicans and the supporters of Alfonso, Isabel II's son
The First Republic (1873–1874):
third Carlist War continued, and Alfonso's supporters rejected the republic
were revolts in Andalucía, Levante and Murcia that demanded the creation of a federal republic
main problem the republic faced was the divisions among the Republicans
federal republic, divided into 17 federal states
centralised, or unitary, republic, in which the central government would control all the political and administrative institutions
there were four different presidents in one year:
Figueras
Pi y Margall
Salmerón
Castelar