The Contemporary Ages in Spain (XIX Century)

The Contemporary Age is the name given to the historical period between the French Revolution (1789) and the present. Let's look at the 19th century. It is a period of many conflicts and political and social changes. 

French Revolution

Humanity experienced a significant demographic increase. The generalization of the consumption of all kinds of products, services and natural resources begins, raising for a large part of human beings their standard of living in a previously unsuspected way, but also exacerbating social inequalities and leaving serious problems for the near future. environmental uncertainties.

Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution is the name given to the process that began in the 18th century in England, by which humanity passed from traditional ways of life based on agriculture, livestock and artisanal production, to others based on industrial production and mechanization. 

Industrial Revolution

This led to an accelerated process of urbanization that profoundly altered the economic and social structures, as well as the mentality of men. 

There is an advancement in technology due to the invention of the steam engine. Muscular strength is replaced by the strength of machines. 

The events of this time are marked by accelerated transformations in the economy, society and technology. A labor movement appears, in the name of which different alternatives to capitalism were proposed. 

Science and culture enter a period of extraordinary development and fertility; while contemporary art and contemporary literature are subjected to the impact of the new mass media.

The French revolution

In 1789, in France, as a consequence of the ideas of the Enlightenment, which defended that all people should be equal before the law, the people revolted and demanded the abolition of the privileges of the nobility and the clergy. Thus, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen was promulgated and a Constitution was drawn up that limited the power of the king.

French Revolution

Shortly after, a second Constitution abolished the monarchy and proclaimed the republic. After a period of great instability, Napoleon Bonaparte seized power. These revolutionary ideas spread throughout Europe throughout the 19th century. 

XIX century in Spain

The beginning of the War of Independence.

In 1807, France and Spain signed a treaty that allowed French troops to pass through Spain to occupy Portugal. However, the French army broke the treaty and invaded some Spanish cities. The attitude of the French troops caused great discomfort among the population, which broke out in 1808 in the Aranjuez mutiny. 

Carlos IV

Faced with popular pressure, King Carlos IV had to cede the throne to his son, Fernando VII. 

Napoleon

Napoleon, the emperor of France, took advantage of the problems in the Spanish royal family to replace the Spanish king and appoint his brother, José Bonaparte, king of Spain. But the population of Madrid did not accept the French king and, on May 2, 1808, they revolted against the French. Thus began the War of Independence. 

The war development

The War of Independence was a war against France, but also a civil war. 

The Spanish population was divided into two groups. 

The Patriotas

On the one hand, the patriots demanded the return to the throne of Fernando VII. Within this group, there were absolutists, who wanted the king to concentrate all power, and liberals, who wanted to make a constitution to limit the king's power.

The Afrancesados

On the other hand, the Frenchified were in favor of having a French king. 

Constitution of Cádiz 1812

In 1810, in the middle of the war, a group of representatives of the patriots met in Cádiz. After long conversations, in 1812 they approved the first Spanish Constitution. The Constitution of Cádiz limited the power of the king and established a series of rights for citizens, such as the equality of people before the law and suffrage, that is, the right to vote to elect the government.

1812 Constitution of Cádiz

During the nineteenth century there will be more constitutions, some more liberal, others more conservative. 1837, 1869, 1876. 

Fernando VII

In 1814 the Spanish people win the War of Independence and Fernando VII is named King of Spain who becomes an absolutist king. Before he died, Fernando VII changed the law of succession to the throne and allowed his daughter to be Queen of Spain. In 1833 Fernando VII died and his daughter Isabel II inherited the throne.

Fernando VII

Isabel II

Isabel II

The daughter of Fernando VII, is only 3 years old, so a regency begins, the regency of María Cristina de Borbón. As the brother of Fernando VII wanted to be king, the infante Carlos V who was the son of King Carlos IV, began a civil war against Isabel II that would last several years. From 1833 to 1840. It is the first Carlist war. Then there would be two more. 

During the reign of Isabel II there are moderate liberals and progressive liberals. The Moderate Liberals were supported by the upper class and supported the 1845 constitution.  

La Gloriosa

In 1868 there was a military Revolution known as "La Gloriosa" and a historical period known as the democratic administration would begin. Isabel II went into exile in France and a year later Amadeo I was appointed king, in 1879 who would form a Parliamentary Monarchy.

Amadeo I

He was elected King of Spain by the Cortes Generales in 1870 after the deposition of Isabel II in 1868. His reign in Spain, lasting just over two years, was marked by political instability. The six cabinets that succeeded each other during this period were not able to solve the crisis, aggravated by the independence conflict in Cuba, which had begun in 1868, and a new Carlist war, which began in 1872. His abdication and his return to Italy in 1873 led to the declaration of the First Spanish Republic.

It had the systematic rejection of Carlists and Republicans, each for reasons inherent to their interests; but also from the Bourbon aristocracy, who saw him as an upstart foreigner, from the Church, and also from the people, due to his lack of people skills and difficulty in learning the Spanish language.

Amadeo I, The unlucky king

In 1873 Amadeo I renounced the throne and the First Spanish Republic began, which would only last one year. From 1873 to 1874. In 1874 there is a military uprising and the First Republic ends.

Monarchical Restoration

Then the Monarchy returns with Alfonso XII. After his premature death at the age of twenty-seven, a victim of tuberculosis, he was succeeded on the throne by his posthumous son, Alfonso XIII, whose minority was headed by the regency of his mother, the widowed queen María Cristina of Habsburg. 

Alfonso XII (Bourbon)

In 1898 Spain lost Cuba and the Philippines. 

Alfonso XIII

In 1902 Alfonso XIII is named King of Spain. We are already in the 20th century. 

Alfonso XIII

Summary

The Contemporary Age begins with the French Revolution in 1789.

There is an unprecedented population increase. The Industrial Revolution completely transformed society. The French Revolution generated a political change throughout Europe. 

In Spain Napoleon invades Spain and there is a war against France.

That war is called the War of Independence and begins on May 2, 1808. 

At the same time there is a civil war in Spain between the patriots and the Frenchified. Between Carlos IV and Fernando VII. 

In 1812 the first Spanish Constitution was approved. Fernando VII died in 1833. Queen Isabel II in a regency. In 1843 she is named Queen of Spain. There is a civil war.

There are three Carlist Wars caused by Carlos V the infant. Isabel II leaves Spain after the Glorious Revolution in 1868. The Democratic Administration begins. 

Then Amadeo I would reign, who was never loved by the people. Second Republic that was a failure. It lasted a year. Monarchical Restoration with Alfonso XII who died at the age of 27.

Queen Alfonso XIII with another Regency of her mother María Cristina of Habsburg. In 1902 he is proclaimed King. 

Homework

a) Read the text and understand it. 

b) Make a mindmap and a Timeline. 

c) Explain it in your own words. 

d) Write 10 questions about this unit and answer them.