The First Spanish Republic: A Brief History (1873-1874)
This text is of public and historical significance because it was written when the Republic was proclaimed after the abdication of Amadeo I. It was written on February 14, 1873, by Parliament and published in the Circular of the Ministry of the Interior to the governors of provinces.
The Proclamation of the Republic
Following the resignation of Amadeo I from the throne, the Cortes proclaimed the First Republic. This announcement was made without wars, settled peacefully, and it was believed necessary to continue the process.
The motto of the Republic was “Order, Freedom, and Justice.”
- Order, because it would punish anyone who did not meet the fundamental principles of the Constitution of 1869.
- Freedom for all people.
- Justice; convene elections for the courts, and there would be no fraud as occurred in the past.
The supporters of the Republic learned from past mistakes to never commit them again.
The Context of the Republic
The Republic was proclaimed the same day Amadeo resigned. The statement was made in contravention of the Constitution, as the courts could not assume all powers and proclaim the Republic on their own, but there was no alternative. The monarchist option had been exhausted after the resignation of Amadeo of Savoy, and the Carlist Alfonsinos did not have enough support to impose the Bourbon restoration. Under these conditions, the majority of deputies voted in favor of the Republic, naming Estanislao Figueras, one of the more moderate leaders of Republicanism, as Chief Executive.
In Spain, since its inception, the Republic had the opposition of the political right (Carlist Alfonsinos) and the Church, which would later be joined by the Constitutionalists and Radicals. Republicans themselves were divided between Unionists and Federalists on the one hand and between conservative Republicans and supporters of social radicalization on the other.
Challenges Faced by the Republic
The problems it faced were numerous:
- Economically, the Republic emerged during a time of financial crisis for the state and an agrarian crisis.
- Socially, its supporters were few and had different interests. For the intellectual bourgeoisie, the Republic would bring democracy, individual rights, and economic development. For farmers and industrial workers, it meant land distribution, reduction of working hours, better pay, and the elimination of consumption taxes and the draft.
This entire situation was compounded by two ongoing wars: the Third Carlist War and the Cuban conflict. Therefore, it is easy to understand that the consolidation of the Republic was very difficult, lasting a hard year with four successive Presidents: Figueras, Pi i Maragall, Salmeron, and Castelar.
The Presidency of Figueras (February – June 1873)
Figueras’s main concern was to maintain order. The government, formed by Radical Republicans, could not agree on the shape of the Republic, which led to the Radicals leaving power and attempting two failed coups.
Elections were held, which were won by the Federalists who wanted a Federal Republic.
The Presidency of Pi i Maragall (June – July 1873)
In June 1873, the court proclaimed the Federal Republic and elected Pi i Maragall as president. He had difficulty forming a government because the Republicans were divided into several factions. The lack of consensus in the House meant that several legislative proposals were not approved, including the official draft Constitution of 1873. This constitution did not enter into force as the country entered a revolutionary process that ultimately ended the Republic, and Pi i Maragall resigned.
The Presidency of Salmeron (July – September 1873)
Salmeron’s presidency marked the beginning of a shift to the right. The new president proposed to restore order, giving full powers to the army, which managed to suppress the uprisings one by one, except for those in Cartagena and Malaga. Salmeron resigned, feeling morally unable to sign the death sentences imposed by the military authorities against Cantonalist activists.
The Presidency of Castelar (September 1873 – January 1874)
In September, Emilio Castelar was appointed as the new President, and the turn toward conservatism was enhanced and consolidated. Castelar launched a program to strengthen the authority of the State, for which he sought support from the military. By late December, he had ended the canton of Malaga and stopped the Carlist advance. After several problems following Castelar’s presidency, General Pavia, Captain General of Madrid, brought troops into the Parliament building where a new government was being voted on. After dissolving Congress, he announced the formation of an emergency government, chaired by General Serrano.
This marked the end of the First Republic.