The Glorious Revolution and the Tumultuous Six-Year Period in Spain (1868-1874)
1. The Glorious Revolution (1868)
The political landscape in Spain was fraught with tension. The discrepancies between Queen Isabella II and the resignation of O’Donnell as Prime Minister in 1866 set the stage for upheaval. Narváez briefly took power in 1868 but died, leaving the Spanish crown in crisis. González Bravo’s repressive measures as interim leader further fueled revolutionary fervor.
In September 1868, General Prim arrived in Cadiz, marking the beginning of the revolution. A 21-gun salute announced Isabella II’s dethronement. Prim and Francisco Serrano proclaimed the dawn of a new era: The Glorious Revolution had begun.
2. The Six-Year Revolutionary Period (1868-1874)
This period saw a complex interplay of political factions vying for power. Unionists, progressives, monarchical democrats, and republicans all participated in the ensuing elections.
2.1 Formation of a Provisional Government (1868-1871)
General Serrano’s army entered Madrid, and Queen Isabella II fled to France. Revolutionary meetings sprung up across the country. In Madrid, a provisional government, headed by Serrano and with Prim as a key figure, was established. This revolution marked the triumph of radical liberalism, emphasizing national sovereignty and universal suffrage.
2.1.1 The Constitution of 1869
This constitution enshrined key principles:
- Declaration of human rights
- Broad local autonomy
- Hereditary monarchy and parliamentary democracy
- Limits on monarchical power
- Bicameral system with an elective Senate and a Congress with full legislative powers
- Ministerial accountability to parliament
The constitution, approved on June 5, 1869, aimed to establish a democratic and decentralized regime. It reestablished the monarchy, appointed General Serrano as Regent, and tasked Prim with finding a new king for Spain. Amadeus of Savoy was elected on November 16, 1870. Tragically, Prim was assassinated on December 10th of that year.
2.2 The Reign of Amadeus of Savoy (1871-1873)
Amadeus I ascended the throne as a constitutional monarch, but political instability plagued his reign. Economic and social unrest, coupled with monarchist rebellions and the Cuban insurrection, further weakened his position. On February 11, 1873, Amadeus I abdicated and returned to Italy. The First Spanish Republic was subsequently proclaimed.
2.3 The First Republic (1873-1874)
The First Republic faced significant challenges in consolidating its power. The republican ideal lacked widespread support, and the ruling factions, divided between unitarians and federalists, struggled to govern effectively.
Governments:
- Figueras (February-June 1873): Focused on establishing a constituent assembly.
- Pi i Maragall (June-July 1873): A proponent of federalism, his draft constitution for a federal republic was not adopted.
- Salmerón (July-September 1873): Adopted a more conservative approach, aiming to quell cantonal uprisings.
- Castelar (September 1873-January 1874): Implemented an authoritarian policy to maintain order and unity.
2.4 Second Interim Government – Serrano (1874)
Following the collapse of the First Republic, General Serrano briefly returned to power as head of an interim government.
2.5 Proclamation of General Martínez Campos (December 1874)
The cantonal uprisings, the Carlist War, and the ongoing Cuban War weakened the republic. General Martínez Campos’s military uprising in Sagunto paved the way for the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy.
Andalusia became a hotbed of social struggle, with anarchism taking root in rural areas.
3. Foreign Policy During the Revolutionary Period (1872-1876)
Spain’s international standing was diminished during this turbulent period. Despite this, diplomatic efforts continued, focusing on maintaining international presence and preventing foreign intervention. The European crisis of 1869-1870, culminating in the Franco-Prussian War, further impacted Spain’s foreign policy.
3.1 Third Carlist War (1872-1876)
The Third Carlist War, a conflict rooted in dynastic disputes, raged across Catalonia, Albacete, Cuenca, and Aragon.
3.2 The Ten Years’ War in Cuba (1868-1878)
The ongoing war in Cuba posed a significant challenge. Growing tensions between Cuban and Spanish interests, exacerbated by distance and communication difficulties, fueled the conflict. This”long wa” would continue for a decade.