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The absolutist phase
Fernando the Vll claimed the throne and canceled the Constitution of 1812, re-establishing with the help of absolutists absolutism. -
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THE REIGN OF FERNANDO VII
Fernando Vll with the help of French troops, wanted to establish again an absolute monarchy as they returned to Spain. The ideas of liberalism difficulted the restoration of absolutism. -
The liberal phase
A militar revolt led by Coronel Rafael del Riego in Seville was successful. The king had to reinstate the Constitution of 1812. To defense the constitution the National Militia, made up of liberals was created. -
The ominous decade
Political and economic problems led a crisis of the absolute monarchy. In order to help the Spanish bankrupt (because of wars against France and the independence of American colonies), privileged classes had to pay taxes. As they were the ones defending absolutism, it meant a lose of supporters. -
1st Carlist war
It was a war to decide who was occupying the throne of Spain and if an absolutist political system or liberal monarchy should be established. Absolutists supported Infante Carlos (Carlism) and liberals were Isabella II supporters (Isabelianos). It ocurred mainly in Catalonia and Carlists were defeated by the liberal army. -
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THE REGENCY OF MARIA CRISTINA
After the death of Fernando the VII, the absolutists refused to recognise his 13 years old daughter Isabella. Instead wanted to name king Infante Carlos. On the other hand, the liberals supported Maria Christina of Bourbon, who acted as regent. With the help of her supporters, they implemented reforms to build a new constitutional monarchy. -
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THE REGENCY OF ESPARTERO
General Esparto took control of the government (moderate liberalism with conservative policies), and Maria Christina was forced to step down. Espartero's authoritarian ideas and the introduction of free trade created strong oppositions. Latter, in 1842, Isabella II was declared queen. -
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THE REIGN OF ISABEL II
Isabella was proclaimed queen and absolutism ended in Spain. She established a liberal constitutional monarchy. Yet, it appered more problems:
-The second Carlist war occurred when Isabella refused to marry Carlos Luis Bourbon. The Carlists rebelled in many territories.
-Some social inabilities appeared by discontent of peasents and workers, because of poor working conditions.
-Expropiations were created. It consisted of expropied the land by the state and sell them to private owners. -
Glorious Revolution
After this revolt, a new political period began, known as the Democratic Sexennium (1868). The revolt strated because of the crisis of the monarchy. It was successful and Isabella was forced into exile, creating a provisional government (1860-1868) -
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SIX YEARS OF DEMOCRACY
After the exile of Isabel II and the Glorious war, a democratic political system began. It was a period divided into 3 different phases:
-The provisional geverment (1868-1870)
-The constitutional monarchy (1871-1873)
-The First Republic (1873-1874) -
Amadeo I of Savoy
Amadeo I was an Italian prince who reigned as King of Spain from 1870 to 1873. The first and only King of Spain from the House of Savoy. He was elected by the Cortes as Spain's monarch, because of the deposition of Isabel II. He was supported by democrats and progressives, as he introduced measures to help Spanish economy. -
The First Republic
When Amadeo I abdicated, the Cortes proclaimed Spain a republic. This was the first time that Spain was not ruled by a monarch. The First Republic faced many problems.