First Spanish Republic facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Spanish Republic
República Española
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| 1873–1874 | |||||||||
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Motto: Plus Ultra
"Further Beyond" |
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Anthem: Himno de Riego
Anthem of Riego |
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| Capital | Madrid | ||||||||
| Common languages | Spanish | ||||||||
| Religion | Catholicism | ||||||||
| Demonym(s) | Spaniard, Spanish | ||||||||
| Government | Federal semi-presidential republic | ||||||||
| President | |||||||||
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• 1873
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Estanislao Figueras | ||||||||
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• 1873
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Francesc Pi i Margall | ||||||||
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• 1873
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Nicolás Salmerón | ||||||||
| Prime Minister | |||||||||
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• 1874
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Juan de Zavala | ||||||||
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• 1874
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P. Mateo Sagasta | ||||||||
| Legislature | Congress of Deputies | ||||||||
| History | |||||||||
| 11 February 1873 | |||||||||
| 12 July 1873 | |||||||||
| 29 December 1874 | |||||||||
| Currency | Spanish peseta | ||||||||
| ISO 3166 code | ES | ||||||||
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The First Spanish Republic was a short-lived government in Spain. It lasted from February 11, 1873, to December 29, 1874. This period was a time when Spain tried to be a republic, meaning it had no king or queen.
The Republic began after King Amadeo gave up his throne. The leaders who took over wanted Spain to be a republic. However, this time was full of problems. There were many disagreements among politicians. Also, several wars were happening at the same time. These challenges made it very hard for the new government to succeed.
Contents
What Was the First Spanish Republic?
The First Spanish Republic was Spain's first attempt at a republican government. It was a very unstable time. In just 11 months, Spain had four different presidents. These were Estanislao Figueras, Francesc Pi i Margall, Nicolás Salmerón, and Emilio Castelar.
Challenges Faced by the Republic
The Republic faced huge problems from the start.
- Three Civil Wars: Spain was fighting the Third Carlist War, the Cantonal Revolution, and the Ten Years' War in Cuba. These wars drained resources and caused chaos.
- Political Divisions: Republicans themselves were divided. Some wanted a "federal" republic, where regions had more power. Others wanted a "unitary" republic, with a strong central government. This made it hard for them to work together.
- Lack of Support: Many people in Spain, including the army, did not fully support the Republic. Some wanted the monarchy back.
- Economic Problems: The country was also facing a tough economic situation.
These issues made the Republic very weak. It struggled to control the country and keep order.
How the Republic Began
The First Spanish Republic started because King Amadeo I decided to step down. He was tired of the constant problems. These included wars, political fights, and a lack of support.
On February 11, 1873, the Spanish parliament, called the Spanish Cortes, met. Most members were monarchists, meaning they supported a king. However, they couldn't agree on who should be the next king. A small group of republicans suggested declaring a republic.
Emilio Castelar, a republican leader, gave a powerful speech. He argued that the monarchy had failed many times. He said the Republic was the natural next step for Spain. After his speech, the parliament voted. With 258 votes for and only 32 against, the Republic was declared.
First President: Estanislao Figueras
Estanislao Figueras became the first "President of the Executive Power." This role combined the jobs of head of state and head of government. He hoped the Republic would bring peace and unity to Spain.
However, his government immediately faced big challenges:
- Money Problems: Spain had a huge debt and very little money.
- Military Weakness: The army was not strong enough to fight the ongoing wars.
- Economic Crisis: Many people were jobless, leading to strikes and protests.
Just 12 days after the Republic began, a new law changed military service. It became voluntary, with daily pay. This was meant to attract more soldiers.
Figueras's government also faced an attempted coup. Some people wanted a "unitary" republic, not a "federal" one. This coup failed. Later, there was another attempt by those who wanted the monarchy back.
Figueras's government called for new elections to create a "Constituent Cortes." This new parliament would write a constitution for the Republic. The elections were held in May 1873. Most people did not vote, but federal republicans won many seats.
The Federal Republic and Its Problems
On June 1, 1873, the new Constituent Cortes met. They quickly voted to declare Spain a "Democratic Federal Republic." This meant regions would have more power, like in Switzerland.
The situation was very chaotic. The writer Benito Pérez Galdós described the parliament as a "spectacle of indescribable confusion." Leaders argued constantly and couldn't agree on how to run the country. At one point, President Figueras was so frustrated that he secretly left Spain and went to Paris!
Pi i Margall's Government and the Cantonal Rebellion
After Figueras left, Francisco Pi y Margall became the new president on June 11. He focused on writing a new constitution and making social changes. These included:
- Dividing land among farmers.
- Bringing back a regular army with mandatory service.
- Separating the Church and the government.
- Ending slavery in Puerto Rico.
- Limiting child labor.
- Making education free and required.
- Allowing workers to form unions and creating an 8-hour workday.
However, events moved too fast. Many regions declared themselves independent "cantons." This was called the Cantonal Rebellion. These uprisings happened mostly in southern Spain. Each canton acted like its own small country.
The most famous canton was Cartagena. It declared its independence on July 12. The leaders of Cartagena even printed their own money. They used their navy ships to attack nearby cities that wouldn't support them. The government in Madrid declared them pirates.
Pi i Margall believed in federalism, so he didn't want to use force against the cantons. This led to more chaos. He resigned on July 18, after only 37 days in office.
There were days in that summer when we thought our Spain was completely disbanded. The idea of legality was lost. It was not about replacing a government; it was about dividing our homeland into a thousand parts, similar to the successors of the Cordoba Caliphate. The strangest ideas came from the provinces. Some wanted to restore the old Crown of Aragon. Others wanted an independent Galicia under English protection. Jaén was preparing to wage war against Granada.
Nicolás Salmerón's Presidency
Nicolás Salmerón became president after Pi i Margall. He was a moderate federalist. He believed in working with other groups and slowly moving towards a federal republic.
Salmerón had to deal with the cantonal movement. He sent generals like Pavía and Martínez Campos to put down the rebellions. Most cantons were brought back under control, except for Cartagena, which held out longer.
Salmerón was a man of strong principles. He had even worked to abolish the death penalty. When his generals asked him to approve death sentences for deserting soldiers, he refused. He resigned on September 6, saying he would not sign a death sentence.
Emilio Castelar's Leadership
The next president was Emilio Castelar, a history professor and a great speaker. He was a "unitarian" republican, meaning he wanted a strong central government. As a minister before, he had helped end slavery in Puerto Rico.
Castelar faced a very difficult situation, especially with the ongoing Carlist War. He focused on rebuilding the army. He told the parliament that he needed "much infantry, much cavalry, much artillery, much Civil Guard, and many riflemen" to save the Republic.
The parliament gave him special powers to govern. He approved the death sentences that Salmerón had refused. He worked to restore order and almost defeated the cantonalists in Cartagena.
However, the federalists in parliament were against Castelar. On January 2, 1874, they tried to vote him out of office. At the same time, General Manuel Pavía, who supported Castelar, surrounded the parliament building with his troops.
When the vote went against Castelar, General Pavía ordered the parliament to be dissolved. The Civil Guard entered the building. Members of parliament quickly left, some even jumping out windows! Pavía offered Castelar to stay as president, but Castelar refused. He didn't want to stay in power through undemocratic means.
This event marked the unofficial end of the First Republic.
The Unitary Republic and Its End
After Pavía's actions, General Francisco Serrano took charge. He had been exiled but returned. Serrano formed a new government that included monarchists and conservative republicans. He declared a "Unitary Republic," meaning a strong central government. He dissolved the parliament and ruled like a dictator.
Serrano finally put down the last cantonal uprising in Cartagena on January 12, 1874. He then focused on fighting the Carlist War in northern Spain.
However, Serrano's rule was also short. On December 29, 1874, General Arsenio Martínez Campos declared his support for the return of the Bourbon monarchy. He wanted Alfonso, the son of the former Queen Isabel II, to be king. The government did not resist.
This event, known as the "Proclamation of Sagunto," ended the First Spanish Republic. The monarchy was restored, and Alfonso XII became king.
Spanish republicans later celebrated the anniversary of the First Republic on February 11. After 1931, they changed the date to April 14, which was the day the Second Spanish Republic was declared.
See also
In Spanish: Primera República española para niños
