19th century spain

19th Century Spain

By Maria Bennàssar

  • The absolutist phase

    The absolutist phase
    • Ferdinand VII refused the Constitution of 1812 and proposed reforms that returned Spain to absolutism.
    • Liberals were persecuted, but they decided to organise pronunciamientos in which they were reclaming the return for a constitutional monarchy.
    • Unfortunately, was not successful and some liberals were forced into exile and others were executed.
  • Period: to

    The reign of Fernando VII

  • The liberal phase

    The liberal phase
    • Colonel Rafael del Riego's pronunciamiento was successful.
    • Ferdinand VII was forced to return the Costitution of 1812.
    • Liberals volunteers armed to support the Constitution and oppose absolutism.
    • The king joined to other European absolute monarchs to protect Spain against liberals.
    • Years later, an allliance of European monarchs called the Holly Alliance, sent the Hundred Thousand Sons of Saint Louis troops which restored absolutism.

  • The ominous decade

    The ominous decade
    • The return to absolutism abolished all the constitutions of the Liberal Triennium.
    • Political and economic problems in Spain given on to the final crisis of the absolute monarchy.
    • A fiscal reform happen when the war against France made Spain bankrupt.
    • Privileged classes refused to pay taxes to overcome the economic crisis because of maybe losing their aid.
    • In 1830 absolutists opposed to the Pragmatic Sanction in which Ferdinand VII's daughter could not herit the throne as a woman.

  • The First Carlist War

    The First Carlist War
    • Was a War between Carlists and Liberals which began in the Basque Country.
    • Carlists fought for 'God, country, fueros and the king.
    • They were defeated by the General Espartero's Liberal army.
    • In 1839 peace was signed at the Convention of Vergara.
    • Carlists continued to exist as supporters of tradition.
    • Revolt of the Matiners happened between 1846 and 1848 which were a significant Carlist uprisings in Catalonia.
  • Period: to

    The regency of Maria Cristina

  • General Espartero

    General Espartero
    • In 1837 the control of the government was taken by moderate liberals.
    • Maria Cristina was forced to resign while the General Espartero was appointed regent.
    • Espartero's ideas were damaging to the emerging Spanish industry.
    • At the age of 13, Isabella II was declared the queen of Spain.
  • Period: to

    The regency of Espartero

  • Alternation of power between moderates and progressives

    Alternation of power between moderates and progressives
    • Progressives had power through military coups while moderates had power through elections and royal appointment.
    • These governments were usually led by a military government.
    • Moderantes governed most of Isabel's reign because she favoured them.

  • Social instability

    Social instability
    • It was caused because of the dicontent among the peasants over the awful working conditions.

  • Expropiations

    Expropiations
    • It was a state confiscation of land in which each owner's land was given an amount of money.
    • The state sold the land at a public auction.
    • Because of their money, peasants could not buy the lands at auction.
    • Expropiations solved Spain's economic problems by paying the state's debt belonging to the church.
  • Period: to

    The reign of Isabell II

  • Second Carlist War

    Second Carlist War
    • It began when the Spanish throne became available after the exile of Isabel II after six years of democracy.
    • It was caused because Isabel II refused to marry Carlos Bourbon.
    • Until their final defeat, Carlists rebelled in lots of territories and formed another government in Estella.

  • Provisional government

    Provisional government
    • This government was created to establish a democratic political system.
    • In 1869 a new constitution based on democratic principles was formed by the 'Cortes'.
    • National sovereignty and universal male suffrage was established by The Constitution.
    • They also had to choose a new king and they set up a paliamentary monarchy.

  • Glorious revolution

    Glorious revolution
    • 'Glorius Revolution' take place because of the crisis of the monarchy.
    • Some causes of the revolution were the general discontent caused by the economic crisis and the expansion of democratic and republican ideas.
    • Isabel II was supplanted and a democratic political system was established.
    • However, after the revolution, the government that emerged, could not establish a democratic system.
  • Period: to

    Six years of democracy

  • Amadeo I of Savoy

    Amadeo I of Savoy
    • He was named King Amadeo I of Spain.
    • Because of the provisional goverment not choosing the Carlist candidate, the third Carlist War began during his reign.
    • In the end, he resigned because he faced opposition between Republicans and the supporters of Isabel II's son, Alfonso.

  • The First Republic

    The First Republic
    • When Amadeo I demited, the Cortes proclamed Spain a republic.
    • It was the first time Spain was ruled by a republic.
    • The lower classes were happy with the result while monarchs did not support that type of government.
    • The Carlists War continued.
    • Divisions among the Republicans was the main problem the government faced and this caused so much political inestability.
    • The First Republic ended when December of the same year, another military revolt wich brought back the Bourbons.