Spain’s 19th Century: Reforms, Revolutions, and Political Shifts
19th Century Spain: A Period of Transformation
Following the new party’s formation, O’Donnell aimed to reorganize Spain, continuing reforms initially proposed to Espartero:
- Railway Act
- Banking reforms
- Confiscation
Key challenges included the fifth and consumption taxes. O’Donnell pursued reforms from the Two Progressive period and drafted the 1856 constitution, which was never enacted. His foreign policy failed to address internal issues, leading to political failures, resignations, and the return of Narváez to a conservative and utilitarian approach. These moderate reforms did not resolve military unrest, culminating in the San Gil sergeants’ uprising, which ended the governments of Isabel II, O’Donnell, and Narváez.
The Bourgeois Revolution
This period marked the ultimate bourgeois revolution, aiming for democratic reforms, defending citizen rights, strengthening national sovereignty, and creating a Constituent Assembly. The bourgeois class, supporting the capitalist system, was joined by farmers who benefited from confiscation.
The 1868 Revolution
The 1868 Revolution was a largely bloodless uprising that led to the resignation and exile of Elizabeth II. General Prim returned to Spain and became head of the revolutionary committee. The revolutionary committees established principles that were included in the 1869 Constitution and the Manifesto of the Nation. These included universal suffrage, freedom of the press, abolishing the death penalty, and ending the fifth, though the latter was not achieved.
The people formed civil defense groups, diminishing military power. Progressive forces and the Boards established a Revolutionary Provisional Government, which replaced the civil defense boards, with General Serrano assuming power. The colonial issue, particularly in Cuba, remained a significant problem as countries sought independence.
Following the new party’s formation, O’Donnell aimed to reorganize Spain, continuing reforms initially proposed to Espartero:
- Railway Act
- Banking reforms
- Confiscation
Key challenges included the fifth and consumption taxes. O’Donnell pursued reforms from the Two Progressive period and drafted the 1856 constitution, which was never enacted. His foreign policy failed to address internal issues, leading to political failures, resignations, and the return of Narváez to a conservative and utilitarian approach. These moderate reforms did not resolve military unrest, culminating in the San Gil sergeants’ uprising, which ended the governments of Isabel II, O’Donnell, and Narváez.
The Bourgeois Revolution
This period marked the ultimate bourgeois revolution, aiming for democratic reforms, defending citizen rights, strengthening national sovereignty, and creating a Constituent Assembly. The bourgeois class, supporting the capitalist system, was joined by farmers who benefited from confiscation.
The 1868 Revolution
The 1868 Revolution was a largely bloodless uprising that led to the resignation and exile of Elizabeth II. General Prim returned to Spain and became head of the revolutionary committee. The revolutionary committees established principles that were included in the 1869 Constitution and the Manifesto of the Nation. These included universal suffrage, freedom of the press, abolishing the death penalty, and ending the fifth, though the latter was not achieved.
The people formed civil defense groups, diminishing military power. Progressive forces and the Boards established a Revolutionary Provisional Government, which replaced the civil defense boards, with General Serrano assuming power. The colonial issue, particularly in Cuba, remained a significant problem as countries sought independence.