The Restoration Regime in Spain: Alfonso XII & the 1876 Constitution
The Restoration Regime in Spain
a) Reign of Alfonso XII: The Canovist System and the 1876 Constitution
On December 29, 1874, General Martínez Campos led a coup in Sagunto and proclaimed Alfonso XII King of Spain. He formed a provisional government led by Antonio Cánovas del Castillo, a confidant of the King. Cánovas had developed the Sandhurst Manifesto, setting out the principles of a new regime based on a liberal monarchy. In January 1875, the King arrived in Madrid and the Restoration began.
Read MoreThe French Revolution: Causes, Phases, and Impact
The French Revolution
The Causes of the Revolution
In 1789, France was in a deep economic and social crisis.
- Since 1760, poor harvests resulted in a rise in food prices.
- The bourgeoisie, wealthy and influential, desired positions in the political world.
- The monarchy was in financial crisis, both due to their own expenses and the cost of aiding the American Revolution. The monarchy could not demand tax payments from the nobility without losing their support.
The Beginning of the Revolution: 1789
The revolution
Read MoreThe Reign of Ferdinand VII and the Emancipation of Spanish America
Fernando VII: Absolutism and Liberalism. 11.4. The Emancipation of Spanish America.
The Reign of Ferdinand VII (1814-1833)
The end of the War of Independence and the return of Fernando VII resulted in the cancellation of liberal reforms and the restoration of the Old Regime. His reign is divided into three stages:
The First Restoration (1814-1820)
In 1814, Fernando VII returned to Spain from France, acclaimed by the people. He soon came under pressure from senior army officers, the Church, and conservative
Read MoreDemocratic Board Manifesto: A Call for Democracy in Spain (1974)
Manifesto of the Democratic Board (1974)
Introduction
This is an excerpt from the “Manifesto of the Democratic Board” dated July 29, 1974, during the final stage of the Franco regime. The Democratic Board of Spain was an organization opposed to Franco that emerged in Paris in 1974 and was led by the Communist Party of Spain (PCE), under Santiago Carrillo. Besides the PCE, it included the Carlist Party, Workers’ Commissions (CCOO), the Popular Socialist Party (PSP) led by Enrique Tierno Galván, and
Read MoreThe 18th Century: Revolutions and Enlightenment
4 The Collapse of Absolutism
In the late 17th century, Holland and England experienced a series of political changes that began to limit the power of absolute monarchy. Enlightenment ideas led to a series of reformist experiences known as enlightened despotism.
4.1 The English Revolutions
In the Middle Ages in England, the power of the monarchy was limited by the actions of the two Houses of Parliament: the nobles and the clergy (House of Lords) and the bourgeoisie, representatives of the people (House
Read MoreSpain’s Restoration (1874-1902): Constitution, Politics, and Power
The Spanish Restoration (1874-1902)
The Constitution of 1876
The Constituent Assembly, elected through universal male suffrage to ensure representation from all parties, was tasked with developing a new constitution for Spain. After extensive debate, the constitution was adopted on February 15, 1876. Promulgated in June 1876 by Alonso Martínez, the constitution originated from a draft developed by a 600-member committee appointed by Cánovas del Castillo from previous legislatures. A 39-member committee,
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