SPAIN: THE 19TH CENTURY

ABSOLUTISM, LIBERALISM AND REVOLUTION

CARLOS IV
-King since 1788, he was terrified by the French Revolution and wanted
to fight France. Spain failed to invade France and peace was signed
-His valido was Godoy, who supported cooperation with France and
signed the treaty of Fontainebleau, that let French soldiers enter in
Spain. The target was Portugal, that should be divided in three
parts.However, Napoleon secret plan was to invade Spain, expel the
Borbons and make his brother Josef king of Spain
-At the same time, a conspiracy provoked the “tumult of Aranjuez”
(Motín de Aranjuez), a coup led by Fernando VII, son of Carlos, who
became the new king
WAR OF INDEPENDENCE
-Napoleon told the Borbons to come to France, where they abdicated
-The French Army entered Spain and the sacked villages to get food.
That led to many complains and an uprising during the 2 of May of
1808, that was crushed by the French army and Josef became king
-The war between Spain and France was also a civil war, as Josef had
Spanish supporters. The French army was defeated at the end
-During the war the first constitution of Spain was made, in Cádiz on
1812.
CONSTITUTION OF CADIZ
It has division of powers: legislative-cortes, executive-king+ministers,
judicial-courts
Manors, guilds, inquisition and many privileges of nobility and clergy
were abolished with complementary laws
FERNANDO VII
-Fernando spent the war in France, wishing a victory to Napoleon
He returned to Spain and wanted to restore absolutism. Liberals were
jailed and the constituion was abolished. Many people went in exile.
-Several coups against absolutism failed until 1820, when colonel Riego
forced the king to restore the constitution. The liberal regime was
destroyed by a French invasion requested by Fernando.
-In the last years, Fernando made several changes to the Spanish
succession law, as he wanted his daughter Isabel II to be his heir
First Carlist War
It was as brutal as the war of independence
When Fernando VII dies, there are two candidates to the throne: Isabel
(His daughter) and Carlos (His brother)
Absolutism was supported by Carlos (Brother of Fernando) Many poor
peasants sided with “carlism” as well as part of the church. Isabel was
supported by the bourgueisie, who wanted a liberal system.
lsabel supporters won the war. As the queen was a child, a regent was
named. However, Isabel was not prepared to be a queen and carlism
was not destroyed
 Isabel II
-She had a very long reing whith zero stability
-Power was controled by the victorious generals of the carlist war, who led
the liberal parties: General Espartero (Partido Progresista) and general
Narváez (Partido Moderado)
-Pronunciamientos were very common, as it was the “best” system to
change government
-The industrial revolution started in several parts of the country but it
went very slowly (Cataluña) or later collaped (Málaga)
-The first railways were built, but many companies wer bankrupt as they
were not profitable
-Another civil war happened, the Second Carlist War
Glorious revolution and Sexenio Democrático
 Several liberal parties decided to remove corrupt and incompetent Isabel
II from power. The revolt was led by general Prim and is called “La
Gloriosa”
 A democratic monarchy was stablished, and a new king was brought,
Amadeo I, a prince of the Italian kingdom
 Amadeo had a very difficult reign: Prim was murdered, Cuba revolted
and the Third Carlist War started. He decided to abdicate
 The I Republic was proclaimed due to the lack of a king. But republicans
were not many and the country was in the middle of several wars. Some
extreme republicans decide to create cantons, small states that were
independent and started wars among them
Restoration
 The army led a coup against the republic, that collapsed
 Alfonso XII, son of Isabel became the new king
 The Carlist war, the cantons and the Cuba revolt were ended
 Two new parties were created: Conservative (Led by Canovas del Castillo) and
Liberal (Led by Mateo Sagasta) They shared power and manipulated the elections,
creating a fake democracy. The system was named “caciquismo”
 The new system allowed some economic growth but an oligarchy took control of
the state and social reforms were never made
 When Alfonso died, his widow María Cristina became regent and kept the system
working.
 1898
 During the Restoration, both Liberal and Conservatives refused to enter in alliances
with other countries
 Spain became a very isolated country, with a weak army and a weaker navy
 The empire included territories in Africa (Guinea) Oceania (Caroline and Mariana
islands), Asia (Philippines) and America (Cuba and Puerto Rico)
 America wanted to take our last colonies and there were many supporters of
independence in Cuba
 The explosion of the Maine (an American battleship that was visiting Cuba) was
followed by war. Spain lost the war and ceded Puerto Rico, Philippines and Guam to
America. Cuba became independent (An American protectorate)
 DEMOGRAPHY AND ECONOMY
 Spanish population growth from 11 to 18 millions
 It was a big growth but less than other countries
 Many people from poor regions (Canarias, Galicia…) moved to America: Argentina, Cuba…
and many never came back
 Agriculture was the main economic activity, but new technologies were never introduced
and the situation in the south became very problematic.
 Industry was scarce: textile (Cataluña), steel (Vizcaya)…
 Minery was powerful but controlled by foreign companies
 Railways were built with a different track gauge and a radial design. And a lot of money was
lost