The Reign of Elizabeth II and the Democratic Transition in Spain
During the reign of Elizabeth II, there were many changes in power, was the first moderate decade (1844-1854) later progressive biennium (1854-1856) with Espartero, then the liberal union Odonell (1856-1863) and Finally, the moderate government with Narvaez 1863-1868. The conservatism in the latter period again imposed an authoritarian manner, regardless of the courts and political groups and military. The insistent political marginalization progressives went back to the insurgency with the support of Democrats. In 1866 there was a popular uprising in Madrid. The situation worsened following the crisis of subsistence. Since that time, large sectors of society agreed on the need to promote a ruling that would give a radical turn to the situation.
Much of his reign was characterized by massive economic growth that affected the whole of Spain.
The situation began to change and in 1866 began a subsistence crisis, together with the financial and industrial crisis had a significant impact on the lives of the people. In the 1860s the majority of the population was dissatisfied with the Elizabethan system. Odonell government but was removed from the offices of the moderate party continued to rule by decree, the courts closed and turned a deaf ear to the problems of the state. As there was no access to the throne of the Progressive Party led by Prim refused to participate in elections because it was the only way to govern. In the same situation was the Democratic Party both signed the Ostend grass with the aim of ending the conservatism in power. This was the end of the Elizabethan monarchy and left the decision of a new form of government in the hands of a Constituent Assembly. After the death of the pact Odonell Ostend Unionists were added to what was essential because they provide much of the summit of the army, but also rather stale On September 19, 1868 a military uprising against the government of Isabel II. Prim and Serrano joined and quickly gained the support of the population in order to overthrow Elizabeth II. Elizabeth II made ready to defend the throne with arms. Both forces met at Puente de Alcolea giving a battle in which allied forces won to the revolution, which led to the queen had no alternative but to resign and go into exile.
In many cities were formed together revolutionaries who organized the survey and launched appeals to people. In early October, the rebels proposed to the revolutionary committees of the appointment of a capital nature centrist provincial government Naming Serrano Prim as regent and president of a government composed of progressives and unionists. The new executive leadership meetings to dissolve and disarm the Milicia.El new interim government promulgated a series of decrees to satisfy some people’s demands and called for elections to Constituent Assembly. The elections were the first to recognize the universal male suffrage. Gave victory to the coalition government (progressive unionists and a sector of the Democrats), but there were two important minorities: the Carlist and Republican. The Cortes met and created a committee to draft a new constitution was adopted on June 1, 1869. The Constitution of 1869, the first democratically established a comprehensive system of rights and liberties, granted rights of expression, assembly and association, freedom of education, equality for employment, freedom to profess any religion, but the state should maintain Catholic worship, also proclaimed national sovereignty emanating the legitimacy of the monarchy as the three powers. The state declared the monarchy, but the power to make laws resided exclusively in the courts: the king only the enacted, could not veto and its powers were limited. Courts were composed of a Congress and a Senate. The overseas provinces enjoyed the same rights as Spaniards.
The Courts established a regency which went to General Serrano, while Prim was appointed head of government. The Republicans showed their discontent with the new situation, the Carlist insurrection activity returned to the economic situation was serious and also had to find a monarch to the Spanish Crown. However, the new government was received with sympathy by most European countries.
Here you should integrate the analysis of the articles of the constitution
The Constitution of 1869 consolidated a political regime based on liberal-
democratic principles. However, frustrated some of the aspirations of other political groups, especially many of the claims of popular character. During the period of the regency was a strong social complicity. The peasants demanded a better distribution of land. The incipient labor movement suffered a process of radicalization in demand for improved pay and working conditions. These ideas came through the extension of civil liberties as the opening of borders and the recognition of the right of association and freedom of the press. The expansion of the ideas related to the first International opened a new stage and led to the organization of the proletariat and peasantry around new class organizations, away from the games. Needs to find a king for the new system of democratic monarchy, remember that the queen was exiled Prim was commissioned to survey foreign ambassadors and to conduct the necessary negotiations to establish an international consensus about the best candidate for the vacant Spanish throne. Got imposed the candidacy of Amedeo, a man with a democratic conception of the monarchy. King of Spain was elected by the Parliament in November 1870 and December 30. Three days earlier had killed General Prim, the new king was left without its most loyal supporter and adviser. Amedeo of Savoy was proclaimed king dissolved the Constituent Assembly to initiate a new stage of democratic monarchy.
The new dynasty had very little support. Progressives and unionists met and yet, not all sectors of these parties were in agreement. The king and his wife benefited from the clear opposition of the aristocracy, the clergy and the cliques courtesans of the time of Elizabeth II. Also part of the army showed its strength to express loyalty to new monarch.
Moderates this king considered to be illegitimate and around Canovas del Castillo prepared the return of the Bourbons in Alfonso XII was attracting many dissident unionists and progressive Carlists were reorganized as a political force. The arrival of Amadeus of Savoy gave arguments to a sector of Carlism try to return methods of armed insurrection, rose encouraged by possible expectations sit on the throne to his candidate. The rebellion but did not constitute a real danger, became a permanent source of problems and instability. Meanwhile, another faction of Carlism was consolidated as a political force Catholic ultra opposite direction to the new monarchy.