Bourbon Restoration in Spain

• The Bourbon Restoration in Spain brought back the monarchy in 1875 with Alfonso XII of Bourbon (1875-1885)

Key Aspects of the Restoration

• The restoration was made possible by political actions led by Antonio Cánovas del Castillo.
• Cánovas, the future leader of the Conservative Party secured Isabel II's abdication in favor of her son.
• Cánovas had the backing of the bourgeoisie and the army who desired political stability.
• Cánovas wrote a manifesto, in which the prince pledged a constitutional government, on December 1, 1874.
• The prince signed the manifesto in Sandhurst.
• General Martínez Campos led a military pronouncement on December 29, 1874, in Sagunto, proclaiming Alfonso XII as king.
• Maria Cristina served as regent (1885-1902) upon Alfonso XII's death in 1885, due to Alfonso XIII's minority.

Political System Functionality

• The 1876 Constitution and the rotation of political parties served as the foundation of the Restoration's political system.

The 1876 Constitution

• The constitution was moderate, but flexible enough to permit any party to rule without needing amendments.
• A comprehensive declaration of rights was established, which may be limited based on the party in power.
• Sovereignty was to be shared by the king and the Cortes.
• The governing party was responsible for determining suffrage, which could be limited or universal.

Political Party Rotation

• The peaceful transfer of power between the Conservative Party and the Liberal Party was known as "turnismo."
• Cánovas del Castillo led the Conservative Party, which was supported by the upper classes and was the successor to the moderates.
• Práxedes Mateo Sagasta led the Liberal Party, which was backed by the bourgeoisie and the urban middle classes, and it was the heir of the progressives.
• The king would appoint the leader of the opposition to form a new administration when the government became unstable.
• Elections would be rigged and manipulated in order to secure victory.
• "Pucherazo" refers to electoral fraud and vote manipulation.
• Methods included keeping ballots in a "puchero" to be added to or removed from the ballot box in order to produce the desired outcome.
• The "vote of the dead" ("lázaros" or "fallecidos"), in which deceased individuals were registered to vote.
• The "vote of the 'cuneros'" refers to voters who registered unlawfully in a territorial constituency to which they did not belong.
• Pressure was applied to voters by "caciques" (local bosses) or people with significant economic and social authority at the local or regional level.

The Bourbon Restoration in Spain (1875-1931) marked the return of the monarchy with Alfonso XII. Antonio Cánovas del Castillo played a key role, securing Isabel II's abdication and ensuring the backing of the bourgeoisie and the army. The 1876 Constitution and political party rotation defined the era's political system.