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The absolutist phase (1814-1820)
Once the French were defeated, Ferdinand VII returned. The political sectors were divided between liberals and absolutists, the former wanted Ferran to swear in the Constitution, however the king closed the courts and annulled Pepa. There was generally a return to the Ancien Régime and there were some uprisings against absolutism, but they were repressed. -
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THE REIGN OF FERDINAND VII
In 1814, the French troops removed and Ferdinand VII, known as 'the Desired', returned to Spain with the aim to re-establish an absolutist monarchy. However, the spread of liberal ideas during the War of Independence made it hard to restore absolutism. -
The liberal phase (1820-1823)
Colonel Riego led a successful pronunciamiento in Seville, which meant that the king had to swear in the Constitution. A liberal monarchical system was established and some of the reforms in Cádiz were resumed. Ferdinand VII was unhappy with that and asked for help from Europe (Holy Alliance) to restore absolutism. France was in charge of helping Spain and sent the "One Hundred Thousand Sons of St. Louis" in 1823, who defeated the liberals and Ferdinand VII was again proclaimed absolute monarch. -
The ominous decade (1823-1833)
Ferdinand VII used strong repression against any liberal movement and had to deal with a severe economic crisis, the solution of which was a tax reform that would make the privileged pay taxes. He did not want to do it as they were the ones who supported him.
On the other hand, Ferdinand VII had only daughters, and the Salic Law prevented women from ruling, so the king dictated the Pragmatic Sanction, which allowed women to access the throne, so his daughter Elizabeth remained as the successor. -
1st Carlist war (1833-1839)
The First Carlist War, which it took place because Fernando VII’s brother Carlos claimed the throne and did not accept Isabel II as queen, began in the Basque country and have experienced commanders like Zumalacárregui. However, the Carlists were defeated by the Liberal army of General Espartero.
Peace was signed at the Convention of Vergara (1839) and between 1846 and 1848 there were significant Carlist uprisings in Catalonia (Revolt of the Matiners). -
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THE REGENCY OF MARIA CRISTINA
Maria Christina supported the moderate liberals, who began making small reforms. However, the Mutiny of La Granja (1836) and popular revolts forced her to hand power over the progressive liberals. Juan Álvarez Mendizábal, leader of the progressive liberals, began the abolishment of the Ancien Régime and a new progressive Constitution was drafted in 1837, which it recognised national sovereignty with census suffrage, separation of powers and two chambers, that granted many rights and liberties. -
Expropriations
Expropriations were carried out by Progressive ministers, such as Mendizábal (1836-1837) and Madoz (1855), that aimed to solve Spain’s economic problems by paying the state’s debt and breaking up large estates belonging to the church, the nobility and municipalities that were unproductive and did not pay tax. At the same time, the crown hoped this policy would create a new class of landowners that would support the liberal regime. -
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THE REGENCY OF ESPARTERO
In 1837, moderate liberals took control of the government together with that Maria Cristina was forced to step down and the progressive General Espartero was appointed regent. Isabella II was declared of age in 1843, at 13 years, and she was proclaimed queen. -
Alternation of power between Moderates and Progressives
These governments were usually led by a military figure, such as Generals Espartero, Narvaez and O’Donnell. The queen was supported by these two liberal political parties, however Isabel favoured the Moderates, who governed for most of her reign.
A progressive constitution was approved in 1837 and a moderate constitution in 1845, in which suffrage was highly restricted, civil liberties were limited and sovereignty was shared between the Cortes and the Crown. -
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THE REIGN OF ISABEL II
Absolutism ended in Spain with the reign of Isabel II. She established a liberal constitutional monarchy, although it had its own special features.
Moreover, the crown retained power, but this power was shared with the Cortes, which the crown could call and dissolve (shared sovereignty). In addition, the queen was supported by the liberal political parties, the Moderates and the Progressives, however she favoured the Moderates, who governed for most of her reign. -
2nd Carlist War
The second Carlist War, which began in 1846 and ended in 1849 with the defeat of the Carlists, was caused by Isabel II’s refusal to marry Carlos Luis Bourbon, the Carlist claimant. If they had married, the succession dispute would have ended. -
Social instability
It was caused by discontent among the peasants over poor working conditions. There was also tension between workers and factory owners over increasing unemployment and low wages. Besides, peasants could not but the lands at auction as they did not have enough money, instead they were bought by the wealthy bourgeoisie. The situation of the poorest got worse as a result of the expropriations since many common lands were sold and many religious institutions stopped providing charity for them. -
Provisional government (1868-1870)
General Serrano, who was regent, and General Prim, who was the head of the government, looked for a new king for Spain who was not a Bourbon. Also, they called the Constituent Cortes in order to write a new constitution.
The Constitution of 1869, which it was 19th-century Spain’s most democratic constitution, established national sovereignty and universal male suffrage, recognised the individual’s rights such as of press, meeting, association, etc. It established a constitutional monarchy too. -
Glorious Revolution
The Revolution, which began in Cádiz, was led by Admiral Topete, General Prim (progressive) and General Serrano (unionist). It was successful and Isabel II was forced into exile. A provisional government was established and a new political period began, known as the Democratic Sexennium. This was the first attempt to establish a democratic political system in Spain. -
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SIX YEARS OF DEMOCRACY
In September 1868, the crisis of the monarchy led to the ‘Glorious Revolution’, an insurrection to overthrow Isabella II and establish a democratic political system. However, the governments that emerged from the revolution could not establish a democratic system. -
Amadeo I of Savoy (1871-1873)
Amadeo of Savoy, who was from a liberal monarchy that had contributed to the unification of Italy, was chosen to take the throne. A few days before his arrival, General Prim was assassinated.
During his reign, the third Carlist War (1872-1876) began because the provisional government had not chosen Charles VII as king. Many problems, which culminated in a war on the island of Cuba, forced Amadeo I to abdícate and leave the country. -
The First Republic (1873-1874)
It lasted 11 months. When Amadeo I abdicated, the Cortes proclaimed Spain a republic. It faced many problems, which the main one was the divisions among the Republicans. There were four presidents in one year: Figueras, Pi y Margall, Salmerón and Castelar. The Republicans were working on a new constitution, but they did not have time to have it approved before General Pavia entered the Cortes in January 1874. In December, there was another military revolt which aimed to bring back the Bourbons.