1876 Constitution & Political Landscape of Spain
Vocabulary Unit 9: 1876 Constitution and Political Transformations in Spain
1876 Constitution
: The Constitution drafted in 1876 is a clear sign of doctrinaire liberalism. Conservative in nature and inspired by the traditional historical values of the monarchy, religion and property. Set the paper concludes shared sovereignty granted broad powers to the monarch: the right of veto, appointment of ministers and authority to convene the Parliament, suspending them or dissolving them without the govern.
Read MorePrimo de Rivera’s Dictatorship and the Fall of the Spanish Monarchy
Dictatorship of Primo de Rivera
The Coup
In a context of political and social crisis, on September 13, 1923, General Miguel Primo de Rivera staged a coup in Barcelona. Alfonso XIII accepted a Military Board chaired by Primo de Rivera, which suspended the constitutional parliamentary system.
Primo de Rivera defended his action as a solution to the political crisis and social unrest. Several factors contributed to the coup:
- Instability and crashes of the parliamentary political system.
- Fear of a social
The Alternation of Power in Spain: Dynastic Parties, Caciquismo, and Electoral Fraud (1875-1898)
The Alternation of Power in Spain (1875-1898)
The Dynastic Parties
During the democratic administration, Antonio Cánovas del Castillo, leader of the Conservative Party, had defended the monarchical restoration. The return of Alfonso XII transformed the Conservative Party, bringing together conservative political groups. Cánovas needed another party to represent the progressive side (dynastic system), and proposed its formation to Práxedes Mateo Sagasta. After an agreement, the Liberal Party was
Read MorePolitical Developments in Republican Spain (1936-1939)
Political Developments in Republican Spain (1936-1939)
The Political and Social Evolution of Republican Spain
a) The Weakness of the State (July-Sept. 1936)
An immediate consequence of the July 18 military uprising was the outbreak of revolutionary movements in Republican territories. While Casares Quiroga attempted to maintain constitutional order, unions and leftist parties demanded arms, which he refused. His resignation led to Diego Martínez Barrio briefly taking power, followed by José Giral
Read MoreThe Rise and Fall of the Second Spanish Republic
The Dictatorship of Primo de Rivera (1923-1930)
On September 13, 1923, General Miguel Primo de Rivera, Captain General of Catalonia, proclaimed a manifesto and seized power, claiming to interpret the will of the people. King Alfonso XIII endorsed this move, dissolving Parliament and appointing Primo de Rivera as Prime Minister. A military directory was established, initiating reforms in local government, railway management, and recruitment. Economic improvements included the creation of the National
Read MoreThe Rise of Fascism and Nazism in Europe
The Crisis of Democracy
The crisis of democracy originated from a double threat. On one side were right-wing conservative organizations and new far-right groups with ultranationalist, totalitarian ideologies similar to fascist movements. On the other side, Soviet communism, which had established a dictatorship in Russia since 1917, aimed to spread its revolution to other countries through the Comintern. These extremist groups were reinforced by internal difficulties caused by World War I and the
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