Manifesto of Manzanares facts for kids
The Manifesto of Manzanares (Spanish: Manifiesto de Manzanares) was an important document in Spain's history. It was released on July 7, 1854, in a town called Manzanares. This manifesto was like a public statement or a call for change. It was written by a young man named Antonio Cánovas del Castillo and signed by a military leader, General Leopoldo O'Donnell. The manifesto asked for big political changes and a new parliament (called the Cortes) to make Spain more fair and modern.
Contents
Spain's Political Situation in 1854
In 1854, Spain had been ruled for about ten years by a group called the Moderate Party. This period was known as the década moderada, which means "moderate decade." Towards the end of this time, the government had become very corrupt. Many people, even those who usually supported the Moderate Party, were unhappy with how things were being run.
The Start of the Uprising
Because of this widespread unhappiness, General Leopoldo O'Donnell decided to act. On June 28, 1854, he led a military uprising. This event is known as La Vicalvarada. The fight didn't have a clear winner right away. After the battle, O'Donnell and his soldiers moved south. They went to Manzanares, in the province of Ciudad Real. There, they met up with other groups who also wanted to see changes in the government.
What the Manifesto Asked For
On July 7, 1854, General O'Donnell released the Manifesto of Manzanares. It was a short but powerful message. The manifesto was written by Antonio Cánovas del Castillo, who would later become a very important leader in Spain.
The manifesto called on all people in Spain to support the King and Queen, but to get rid of the corrupt government that was in power. It showed the ideas of the Progressive Party, which wanted more freedom and progress for the country.
Here are some of the main things the manifesto said it wanted:
- To keep the King and Queen on the throne, but without the bad influences around them.
- To strictly follow the country's basic laws, especially those about elections and the press.
- To lower taxes by managing money more carefully.
- To make sure that experience and skill were respected when choosing people for jobs in the government and military.
- To give local towns and regions more control over their own affairs. This would help them manage their interests better.
- To bring back the National Militia, which was a citizen army, to protect these new freedoms.
The manifesto stated that the new government and the parliament would decide the final steps for Spain's "liberal regeneration." This meant making Spain a truly free and modern country. The leaders promised not to stop fighting until the people's wishes were met.
The Impact of the Manifesto
The people of Spain listened to the call from the Manifesto of Manzanares. Within just a few weeks, the Moderate government collapsed. This led to a new period in Spanish history called the bienio progresista, or "progressive biennium." This was a two-year period where the Progressive Party had more influence and tried to bring about the changes promised in the manifesto.
See also
In Spanish: Manifiesto de Manzanares para niños
