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Restoration (Spain)
Period in the history of Spain, 1874–1931 / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Restoration (Spanish: Restauración), or Bourbon Restoration (Spanish: Restauración borbónica), is the name given to the period that began on 29 December 1874—after a coup d'état by General Arsenio Martínez Campos ended the First Spanish Republic and restored the monarchy under Alfonso XII—and ended on 14 April 1931 with the proclamation of the Second Spanish Republic.
Kingdom of Spain | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1874–1931 | |||||||||
| Motto: Plus Ultra "Further Beyond" | |||||||||
| Anthem: Marcha Real "Royal March" | |||||||||
 The Kingdom of Spain and its colonies in 1898 | |||||||||
| Capital | Madrid | ||||||||
| Common languages | Spanish | ||||||||
| Religion | Roman Catholicism (state religion) | ||||||||
| Demonym(s) | Spanish, Spaniard | ||||||||
| Government | Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy
| ||||||||
| King | |||||||||
• 1874–1885 | Alfonso XII | ||||||||
• 1886–1931 | Alfonso XIII | ||||||||
| Regent | |||||||||
• 1885–1902 | Maria Christina | ||||||||
| Prime Minister | |||||||||
• 1874–1875 (first) | Antonio Cánovas | ||||||||
• 1931 (last) | Juan B. Aznar | ||||||||
| Legislature | Cortes Generales | ||||||||
| Senate | |||||||||
| Congress of Deputies | |||||||||
| History | |||||||||
| 29 December 1874 | |||||||||
| 30 June 1876 | |||||||||
| 25 Apr–12 Aug 1898 | |||||||||
| 1909–1910 | |||||||||
| 17 August 1930 | |||||||||
| 14 April 1931 | |||||||||
| Currency | Spanish peseta | ||||||||
| |||||||||
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After almost a century of political instability and many civil wars, the aim of the Restoration was to create a new political system, which ensured stability by the practice of turnismo. This was the deliberate rotation of the Liberal and Conservative parties in the government, often achieved through electoral fraud. Opposition to the system came from Republicans, socialists, anarchists, Basque and Catalan nationalists, and Carlists.
The period of Restoration in Spain, from 1874 to 1931, was marked by political instability, economic struggles, and social unrest. Here are some of the main themes that shaped this era in Spanish history:[1][2]
- Political conservatism: The Restoration period was characterized by a return to conservative politics and the re-establishment of the Bourbon monarchy. King Alfonso XII was able to restore stability to the country after years of political turmoil and upheaval. However, this stability was often maintained through repression and the suppression of dissent.
- Economic struggles: Spain experienced economic struggles during the Restoration period, including high levels of unemployment and inflation. There was also a high level of social inequality, with a small wealthy elite controlling most of Spain's resources.
- Social unrest: The period was marked by social unrest and the rise of socialist and anarchist movements. These movements sought to end the economic and social inequalities that existed in Spanish society and often clashed with the conservative government.
- Regional tensions: Spain has a long history of regional tensions, and these tensions were heightened during the Restoration period. There were many movements calling for greater autonomy for regions such as Catalonia and the Basque Country.
- The Spanish-American War: In 1898, Spain lost nearly all of its few remaining colonies in the Spanish-American War, including Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines. This was a major blow to Spanish pride and had a significant impact on the country's economy and politics.
- Cultural revival: Despite the political and economic challenges of the Restoration period, it was also a time of cultural revival in Spain. There was a renewed interest in Spanish art, literature, and music, and many important cultural figures emerged during this time.