The History of Spain from 1833 to 1931: A Comprehensive Overview

Posted on Aug 2, 2024 in History

The Regency of Maria Cristina (1833-1840)

  • Allied with both Liberalist Parties
  • First part: Liberal Party (moderates)
  • Second part: Progressive Party (after military revolt in 1836 and popular riots)
  • Ecclesiastical confiscations of Mendizábal (1835-37)
  • Resigned due to confrontations with Progressives in 1840

The Regency of General Espartero (1840-1843)

  • Allied with Progressive Party
  • Ruled in an authoritarian way, losing support from both parties
  • Rebellion forced his resignation, and Isabella was named Queen at age 13

Political Problems during Isabella II’s Reign

  • Isabella II considered came of age at 13
  • Faced several political problems
  • Two new political parties opposed to monarchy: Democratic Party and Republican Party
  • Electoral fraud caused popular discontent

Political Periods during Isabella’s Reign as an Adult (1843-1868)

Moderate Decade (1844-1854)

  • Dominated by General Narváez and the Moderate Party
  • Moderate Constitution of 1845, favoring monarchy
  • Re-establishment of relations with the Church

Progressive Biennium (1854-1856)

  • Dominated by General Espartero and the Progressive Party
  • New Constitution of 1856, progressive (never came into force)
  • Ecclesiastical confiscations by Madoz

Last Years (1856-1868)

  • Moderates and Unión Liberal (led by O’Donnell) alternated in power
  • Opposition to the regime increased
  • Ostende Pact (1866) to overthrow Isabella II, leading to the Glorious Revolution (1868)

Economic Problems

  • Confiscations of ecclesiastical and municipal properties to pay State’s debt
  • Negative consequences for farmers:
    • Expropiated lands bought by bourgeoisie
    • Common lands sold
    • Religious orders ceased to help the poor

The Glorious Revolution (1868)

  • Military uprising forced Queen into exile in France
  • First attempt to establish democracy in Spain
  • Victorious coalition of liberals, moderates, and republicans faced the challenge of finding a government

Six Revolutionary Years (1868-1874)

  • Provisional government (1868-70): Constitution of 1869 (progressive), establishing constitutional monarchy
  • Democratic monarchy (1871-73): Amadeo I appointed king of Spain
  • First Spanish Republic (1873-74): Pi y Margall as first President

The Birth of the Modern World (1870-1914)

  • Europe: Period of tense international relations
  • Spain: Lost remaining colonies in 1898
  • Consumer society increased social inequalities and economic crisis
  • Colonization period
  • Art: Modernism and Impressionism

The Franco-Prussian War (1870-71)

  • War between France and Prussia (aided by North German Confederation)
  • Prussia’s victory led to changes in Europe
  • France surrendered Alsace-Lorraine to Germany
  • Napoleon III’s Empire ended, and the Third Republic was established in France
  • German Confederation became a political union

Political Tension in Europe (1871-1914)

  • Period of uneasy peace or tense calm
  • Countries kept armies well-prepared
  • Germany’s decisive foreign policy:
    • Bismarckian system
    • Policies of Wilhelm II

The Bismarckian System

  • Otto von Bismarck became First Chancellor of the German Empire after 1871 Treaty of Versailles
  • Conservative who dominated European affairs (1860-1890)
  • Created a”balance of powe” that preserved peace in Europe from 1871 to 1914

The Policies of Wilhelm II

  • Last German Emperor (1888-1918)
  • Dismissed Bismarck in 1890 and abandoned his Realpolitik system
  • Began Weltpolitik system (1897), leading to a tense period
  • Fundamental change in German foreign policy that led to World War I

Third Carlist War (1872-1876)

  • Carlists occupied several towns in Spain
  • Proclaimed restoration of Catalan, Valencian, and Aragonese fueros
  • Carlist pretender, Carlos VII, went into exile in France after four years of war
  • Caused between 7,000 and 50,000 casualties

The Bourbon Restoration in Spain

  • Military uprising in December 1874 established Alfonso XII and a parliamentary monarchy
  • Period of stability
  • Constitution of 1876
  • Two official political parties: Liberals and Conservatives
  • Third Carlist War (1872-76)
  • Regional movements

The Restoration of the Bourbons

  • December 1874: Military uprising led by Martínez Campos crowned Alfonso XII King of Spain
  • Government of Sagasta did not oppose
  • Restoration succeeded thanks to previous work of Cánovas del Castillo
  • Alfonso XII reigned from 1874 to 1885
  • Political system known as turno system or two-party system: Liberals (led by Sagasta) and Conservatives (led by Cánovas) alternated in power

Alfonso XII’s Death

-In November 1885 Alfonso XII died, he was 28 years old.

-His wife, Maria Christina of Austria became regent for their son, next Alfonso XIII.

-She ruled from 1886 to 1902, during the minority of Alfonso XIII.

-Alfonso XIII ruled from 1902 to 1931.

Regency period (1886-1902)

–Spanish-American War, 1898 -> Spain lost its last remaining territories in America to the USA: Puerto Rico and Cuba, and the Philippines in Asia as well.

-It was known as the Disaster of 1898.

-Consequences:

.Loss of colonial markets

.Working-class protests

.Popular revolts