19 TH CENTURY
BACKGROUND TO THE SPANISH WAR OF INDEPENDENCE.
EUROPE
In 1789, the French Revolution begins as a response to growing social inequalities. Revolutionaries depose French king Louis XVI
Republican and egalitarian ideas of the revolution begin to spread in Europe
SPAIN
In Spain, Carlos IV was the absolute monarch of the country
However, Queen María Luisa and Prime Minister Manuel Godoy effectively ruled for Carlos, and Carlos lost most of the population’s support
THE WAR OF INDEPENDENCE
●In 1799, Napoleon Bonaparte becomes dictator of France and the French Revolution comes to an end.
●In 1807, Napoleon asks Carlos IV for military access through Spain in order to occupy Portugal.
●While crossing Spain, it becomes clear that Napoleon also wants to occupy Spain
●In March of 1808, A popular revolt breaks out in Madrid and Carlos IV abdicates the throne to his son, Fernando VII.
●Soon after, Napoleon forces Fernando to abdicate and replaces him with Napoleon’s own brother, José Bonaparte.
●On the 2nd of May, 1808, the citizens of Madrid rose up against French rule, starting the War of Independence
CONSTITUTIONALISM IN SPAIN
●During the war, the parliament moved to Cadiz
●Many politicians in the new parliament objected to absolute monarchy and advocated a constitution to limit the King’s powers and protect the rights of citizens
●In 1812, parliament drafted the first Spanish constitution, the Constitution of Cadiz
●The constitution allowed men 25 years old or older to vote, and protected the publication and expression of political ideas
FERNANDO VII
●When the war ended, Fernando VII returned as king
●He was King of Spain from 1814 to 1833.
●He was an absolute monarch and did not accepted the Constitution, so he abolished it.
●In 1820 a military revolt led By Coronel Riego, forced Fernando VII to become a constitutional King.
●The Independence of most of the American colonies, weakened the monarchy.
●Fernando VII wanted his only child, Isabel, to become queen so he revoked the Salic Law. His brother Carlos, did not accept this change.
ISABEL II
●After Fernando’s death in 1833, Isabel II acceded to the throne, with the support of moderate and progressive liberals
●Carlos María Isidro de Borbón claimed the Spanish throne, arguing that women still weren’t allowed to inherit the throne. His supporters, “Carlistas”, were in favor of absolute monarchy
●The Carlists attempted to take power in the Carlist Wars, in 1833 and 1846. The Carlists lost both
●Isabel and her government were very unpopular. In 1868, due to the Glorious Revolution (a military revolution) Isabel II abdicated.
The First Republic and the Restoration
●Parliament chose Italian nobleman Amadeo de Saboya to be king of Spain in 1870. Two years later he abdicated.
●In 1873, parliament proclaimed the First Spanish Republic, a form of government with no King.
●In 1875, after a year of political instability, the monarchy was restored with the accession of Alfonso XII, son of Isabel II.
●A period called The Restoration began.
Alfonso XII
●The Constitution of 1876 was proclaimed.
●System of political alternation was established to stabilise the political situation. Several groups opposed this system.
●In 1885, Alfonso XII died. Queen María Cristina ruled as regent for their son, Alfonso XIII, until he was 16.
●In 1898, the last Spanish colonies—Cuba, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico—became independent. This is called the Crisis of 98.
●In 1902, Alfonso XIII became king. He tried to modernize the country.
Stop 3:17
Cultural life
LITERATURE
-Romanticism: Writers: Becquer, Zorrilla
-Realisms: Described the world around them. Writers: Perez Galdós, Valera.
-Generation of 98: Intellectual with a negative vision of Spain. They criticised Spanish Institutions. Writers: Unamuno, Valle-Inclán.
ARCHITECTURE
-Neogothic
-Neo-mudejar
-Public buildings: In neoclassical style (Concress of Deputes) or iron and glass (Atocha train station).
-Cities grew: new roads and new houses.
SCHOOL
-Moyano's Law (1857)
-Established: primary, secondary and superior education.
-Made education compulsory for boys and girs from 6 to 9 years old.
MUSEUMS
-Were founded: Prado Museum and National Archaeological Museum
NATIONAL LIBRARY
-Every book published in Spain was archived there.
CONSERVATORIES
-Were promoted.
PRESS
-Newspapers could be read by more people.
-Advances in telegraph technology meant news could be sent faster than before.
SOCIAL CHANGES
ECONOMY
-More modern.
-Industrialisation: mainly in the north of Spain.
-Commerce and trade: improved thanks to telegraphs, reads and canals.
-National Bank of Spain: founded in 1868
-Peseta: Spanish legal currency.
PEOPLE'S LIVES
-Capitalism class: emerged.
-Working conditions were hard and unsanitary.
-Social classes:
-Bourgeoisie: owned lands and factories.
-Middle class: mechants, civil servants and professionals.
-Lower class: 80% workers in factories, land and servants.
