Spanish Constitution of 1876: Analysis and Context
The Spanish Constitution of 1876: Key Features and Historical Context
Primary Source Analysis
- Type of Text: Primary source; Legal (constitutional) and political text.
- Author: Representatives of the Spanish Cortes.
- Addressed to: All Spaniards (public text).
- Objective: Imposing the new legal framework that meets the principles of the Restoration system.
- Location and Date: Madrid, after the failure of the First Republic and the end of the Democratic Six Years, at the beginning of the Restoration of the Bourbon
Isabella & Ferdinand: Unification of Spain
Isabella and Ferdinand: The Unification of Spain
By the Treaty of Guisando (1468), Henry IV recognized his sister Isabella as heir to the Castilian throne, against the interests of the king’s daughter, Juana “la Beltraneja.” Isabella secretly married Ferdinand of Aragon in 1469. On the death of Henry IV, civil war broke out between Isabella (supported by Aragon) and Juana (supported by Portugal, France, and parts of the Castilian nobility). After the victory of the Isabelline forces in the Battle
Read MoreExtremadura in the Cortes of Cadiz & War of Independence
Extremadura in the Cortes of Cadiz
Given the waiver for Joseph Bonaparte, liberal institutions emerged in Spain. These institutions took power under the coordination of the Supreme Central Junta at Aranjuez. The Extremaduran Junta Central Superior (JCS) was organized in 1808. The members of that board were persons of social importance attached to the Church, nobility, army, and administration. The Extremaduran JCS had several locations because of the war.
The situation across the country imposed the
Read More19th Century Europe: Key Concepts & Movements
Key Concepts of 19th Century Europe
Politics and Law
- Civil Code: Code created in 1804 by Napoleon, which reflected the revolutionary achievements (equality before the law, liberty, property, and separation between church and state).
- Constitutional Assembly: Body whose function is creation, endowed with powers that should be subject to public institutions. This predominated in France from 1789 to 1791. It abolished feudalism and drafted the Bill of Rights of Man and Citizen.
- Constitution: Fundamental
Western Civilization: Greece and Rome
Western Civilization
Western Civilization is located in countries in America and Europe, where two civilizations were born. In Greece and Rome, there were large cultural advances that we inherited. In Greece developed classical culture, meaning outstanding. They gave great importance to humans and nature, and developed thoughts of a humanistic culture. This gave rise to Hellenization, spreading culture to all places they conquered and founded colonies (apoikas). They also learned the culture of the
Read MoreThe Disaster of ’98: Spain’s Colonial Loss
The Disaster of ’98
Since 1898, insurrections in Cuba had been almost continuous, suppressed by both military means and political agreements. However, in 1895, with the Cry of Baire—a public statement on the independence of the island—the rebels were joined by the intellectual José Martí. The revolt drew participants from the petty bourgeoisie and the most popular elements of island society. The Spanish government sent up to 130,000 soldiers under the command of General Martínez Campos. The
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