First Spanish Republic

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Was the political regime that existed in Spain from 11 February 1873 to 29 December 1874. The Republic was established after the abdication of King Amadeo I on 10 February 1873. After a coup in 1874, the monarchy was restored.

Summary

The First Spanish Republic was a short-lived experiment in republican government that lasted from 1873 to 1874. It was established after the abdication of King Amadeo I in 1873, ending the Bourbon monarchy that had ruled Spain since the 18th century.

The origins of the First Republic can be traced to the Glorious Revolution of 1868, which had deposed the Bourbon monarch Isabella II. A provisional government was established, and in 1871 Amadeo of Savoy was brought in from Italy to become king. However, Amadeo's rule was unstable, with frequent changes in government and opposition from both the left and right. In 1873, Amadeo abdicated, leaving a power vacuum.

A new republican constitution was hastily drawn up, establishing Spain as a unitary, democratic republic. However, the republic was plagued by political instability from the start. There were frequent changes in leadership, with four different presidents in its eight-month lifespan. The new government also faced challenges from regionalist movements, particularly in Catalonia and the Basque Country, who sought greater autonomy or outright independence.

Ultimately, the First Republic was unable to consolidate power or establish a stable governing structure. In late 1874, the republic was overthrown in a military coup led by General Martinez Campos, who restored the Bourbon monarchy with Alfonso XII as king. The failure of the First Republic demonstrated the deep political divisions in Spanish society at the time, which would continue to destabilize the country in the decades to come.

Despite its brevity, the First Republic represented an important experiment in Spanish republicanism. It laid the groundwork for the more successful Second Republic established in 1931. The legacy of the First Republic also lingered, fueling continued republican and federalist sentiment that would resurface in later years.