Spain in the late 19th century ii

2. Spain in the late
19th -20th century

3. The
Restoration:
1875-1923
During Alfonso XII´s reign, there were
minor conflicts, and there was less
violence than in previous years.
King Alfonso XII (1875-1885) ruled as a
constitutional monarch (not an
absolute one) under the Constitution of
1876. Although he was young and
inexperienced king, he was very
popular.
Link it up! Whose rule was not popular
with any of the political parties?

4. Antonio
Cánovas des
Castillo
and
Práxedes
MateoSagasta
 Under his reign, there
was a new political
system: the turno
pacífico.
 Research! “turno
pacífico”
 Antonio Cánovas del
Castillo, leader of the
Conservative,
He organised a political
system based on two
political parties.
 Práxedes Mateo
Sagasta, the leader of
Liberals.

5. Characteristic
of this period
Pros
After a century of instability, Spain was stable again.
It was a period of economic prosperity and
modernisation.
There was peace and prosperity in Cuba and Puerto Rico.
Cons
The only way to guarantee the system would work was
through electoral fraud; the King chose the government
and the result of the election was decided in advance.
Basque and Catalan nationalism grew in protest against
the unfair system.
 Think! “A policy of electoral fraud is acceptable if it
brings about stability:” Do you agree with this
statement?

6. AlfonsoXIII
 Alfonso XII´s early death left his son,
Alfonso, as heir to the throne. His mother,
María Cristina, ruled as regent until the
young Alfonso turned sixteen in 1902 and
became King Alfonso XIII
 Link it up! What other Maria Cristina ruled as
a regent in 1833?
 During the regency period, Spain lost its
remaining colonies. What are they?

7. General Primo
de Rivera
 General Primo de Rivera lost all
confidence in the Spanish
government and organized a
coup. Alfonso XIII supported him
and Rivera suspended the
Constitution and became a
dictator from 1923-1930.
Eventually, the army stopped
supporting Rivera and Alfonso
XIII forced him to resign.
 Despite his attempts to re-
establish a non-dictatorship form
of government, the public no
longer trusted Alfonso XIII. In
1931, the Republicans won the
elections, the monarchy was
abolished, and the Second
Republic was declared. It lasted
until the end of the CivilWar in
1939.

8. Constitution of
1931
ManuelAzaña
became
president.
Spain became
a democracy.
 Link it up! When was the first Constitution in Spain approved?
Among many other things it:
 established freedom of speech
 gave the vote to women
 made divorce legal
 took away the special legal status enjoyed by
Spanish nobility
 limited the powers of the Church.

9. Oppostition to
the Republic
Research!
The Church:
The military and the Nationalists
Worker´s groups
Monarchists and Fascists
Why do you think workers were
opposed to the Republic?

10. Oppostion to
the Republic
The church: Its powers had been
limited by the new constitution.
The military and the Nationalists: They
saw the government as weak.
Worker´s groups:They considered the
Second Republic to be oppressive.
Monarchists and Fascists:Their status
as nobles had been reduced.

11. SpanishCivilWar :
1936-1939

12. 1875-1885