Spain’s 19th Century: Reform and Liberal Political Models
Unit 14: Introduction
Two models were faced by politicians: reform (by Joseph Bonaparte) and liberal (Spanish). Spain was at war with British participation. The Spanish rose up against Napoleon.
Political Model 1: The Joseph Bonaparte Model
For Napoleon, the Spanish question was resolved with the abdication of the crown at Bayonne. He obtained it legally; government agencies did not object. It was the only way to avoid chaos and disorder. His reign began in July 1808. He promised integrity and independence
Read MoreThe Genesis of the Labor Movement in Spain: 1860-1874
Genesis of the Labor Movement in Spain
The 1860 census data reveals the workforce composition:
Day laborers were the most numerous, concentrated in the lands south of the Tagus. Factory workers and miners accounted for only 2.5% of the workforce. These figures highlight the importance of Catalonia and Andalusia in the origins of the worker and peasant movements.
Living Conditions of the Working Class
The working class faced especially harsh conditions: days exceeding 12 hours, job insecurity, lack of
Read MoreThe Rise of Nazi Germany: From Munich to Power
The Rise of Nazi Germany
The beginnings of Nazi Germany can be traced to Munich, where the German Workers’ Party, a nationalist party that spread illiberal and racist propaganda, was founded. Hitler soon became involved, embracing its nationalism.
He chaired a committee that set the agenda of 25 points and changed the party’s name to the National Socialist German Workers’ Party. That year, the party formed a paramilitary organization, the SA, which soon practiced violence against its opponents.
Nazi
Read MoreThe Democratic Sexenio: Regency, Amadeo I, and First Republic
The Democratic Sexenio
The Regency of Serrano
During the prolonged crisis of Isabella II’s monarchy and amidst an economic downturn, Democrats, Progressives, and Republicans united in opposition. Their goal was to dethrone Isabella and convene a Constituent Assembly. The deaths of O’Donnell and Narváez left the Queen isolated. In September 1868, a military coup, backed by financial and industrial interests and led by Generals Prim and Serrano, along with Admiral Topete, took place. The Elizabethan
Read MoreThe 1931 Constitution and Agrarian Reform in Spain
The Courts approved a new constitution, the first truly democratic one in Spanish history and the first in Europe. The Constitution was a parliamentary monarchy with a strict separation of powers. Legislative action corresponded exclusively to the Courts, and executive power to the King, but his powers were very limited, as the government was exercised by the ministers. Moreover, they had to answer for their actions to the Courts. Judicial power was reserved for judges.
The text included a detailed
Read MoreIsabel II and the First Republic: Spain in Turmoil
Isabel II’s Reign: A Turbulent Era
Background: The First Carlist War erupted following Ferdinand VII’s death in 1833 and the abolition of the Salic Law, leading to Queen Isabel II’s reign. The war, fought between liberals and Carlists, concluded in 1839 with the Carlists’ defeat.
Regency of Mª C: In 1834, a Royal Charter (conservative) was issued, causing a division among liberals. The government of Martinez de la Rosa faced a progressive revolt, leading to Mendizabal’s government, which implemented
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