Restoration of Monarchy in Spain: Cánovas & Alfonso XII
Alfonso XII’s Reign: Cánovas’ System and the 1876 Constitution
After General Serrano’s military dictatorship, following the coup of Pavia and the dissolution of Parliament, the Republican opposition was nullified, and trade unions were prohibited. Simultaneously, support for Alfonso XII grew among the Army, the middle class, and businessmen, weakening Serrano’s position. The 17-year-old Prince Alfonso, advised by Cánovas del Castillo, signed the Sandhurst Manifesto, committing to a constitutional monarchy, democratic progress, and acceptance of the existing administration. Monarchist generals Martínez Campos and Jovellar staged a *pronunciamiento* in Sagunto, proclaiming Alfonso King.
As initial steps, Cánovas appointed new governors and mayors, imposed censorship, and ordered the closure of Republican newspapers. The army took the offensive, ending the two ongoing wars. In 1876, the surrender of the Carlists was signed (Somorrostro Manifesto). In 1878, the war in Cuba concluded.
The Constitution of 1876
In 1875, elections for the Constituent Cortes were called, but the process was manipulated to guarantee a government majority. Months later, the Constitution of 1876 was adopted. It was a flexible text with doctrinaire and conservative aspirations. Key features included:
- A comprehensive bill of rights and duties.
- Shared sovereignty between the Crown (with veto power) and the legislature.
- A bicameral Cortes: an Upper House (Senate) with three types of senators and a Congress of Deputies.
- Executive power exercised by the Crown’s ministers, accountable to the Chambers, with the King choosing the head of government.
- Independence of the judiciary and a unified legal code.
- Recognition of Catholicism as the state religion, ensuring the maintenance of the Church and clergy, while allowing other religions, provided they adhered to Catholic morality and refrained from public manifestations.
Political Foundations of the Cánovas System
Antonio Cánovas del Castillo was instrumental in the Restoration. His primary objective was to establish the monarchy, which, alongside the Cortes, formed the pillars of the system. He believed both should share sovereignty. The system was also intended to accommodate all bourgeois parties. Cánovas aimed for a lasting Constitution that would allow different parties to govern, ending the use of *pronunciamientos* as a means of seizing power. His ideal parliamentary model was the British system, based on two major parties alternating in power to avoid fragmentation and ensure parliamentary majorities.
Distortion of the System: Patronage and Electoral Corruption
The functioning of the Constitution was deliberately manipulated by its own proponents. When political leaders saw the need for a change in power, they suggested the appointment of a new government. The new president received his appointment along with a decree dissolving Parliament and calling new elections. Election manipulation was achieved through an extensive network of local bosses and authorities. The Restoration regime was highly conservative, with the Crown revived by conservative politicians, businessmen, and military commanders. The new system, initially supported by the middle class, gradually led to indifference towards parliamentary rule. The spread of the press and the emergence of new parties began to challenge the Cánovas system.
Policies Until 1885
Until 1881, the Conservative Party, led by Cánovas, governed. After the adoption of the Constitution, repressive policies were maintained and intensified. The Electoral Law of 1878 established a highly restricted suffrage, limiting the electorate to 5% of the population. In May 1880, the Fusion Party was renamed the Liberal Party, under the leadership of Sagasta. In 1881, Cánovas resigned, paving the way for the Liberal Party. Sagasta suppressed protests and a Republican coup attempt.