Liberalism, Labour movement and nation state Spain

the third of may 1808 francisco de goya depicts episode of spanish independence war.

in 1793, spain went war against revolutionary new french republic member of first coalition. subsequent war of pyrenees polarised country in reaction against gallicised elites , following defeat in field, peace made france in 1795 @ peace of basel in spain lost control on two-thirds of island of hispaniola. prime minister, manuel godoy, ensured spain allied herself france in brief war of third coalition ended british victory @ battle of trafalgar in 1805. in 1807, secret treaty between napoleon , unpopular prime minister led new declaration of war against britain , portugal. napoleon s troops entered country invade portugal instead occupied spain s major fortresses. ridiculed spanish king abdicated in favour of napoleon s brother, joseph bonaparte.

joseph bonaparte seen puppet monarch , regarded scorn spanish. 2 may 1808 revolt 1 of many nationalist uprisings across country against bonapartist regime. these revolts marked beginning of devastating war of independence against napoleonic regime. napoleon forced intervene personally, defeating several spanish armies , forcing british army retreat. however, further military action spanish armies, guerrillas , wellington s british-portuguese forces, combined napoleon s disastrous invasion of russia, led ousting of french imperial armies spain in 1814, , return of king ferdinand vii.

the proclamation of spanish constitution of 1812 in cádiz

during war, in 1810, revolutionary body, cortes of cádiz, assembled co-ordinate effort against bonapartist regime , prepare constitution. met 1 body, , members represented entire spanish empire. in 1812, constitution universal representation under constitutional monarchy declared, after fall of bonapartist regime, ferdinand vii dismissed cortes generales , determined rule absolute monarch. these events foreshadowed conflict between conservatives , liberals in 19th , 20th centuries.

laureano figuerola, manuel ruiz zorrilla, práxedes mateo sagasta, juan prim, francisco serrano, juan bautista topete, adelardo lópez de ayala, juan Álvarez de lorenzana, antonio romero ortiz

spain s conquest france benefited latin american anti-colonialists resented imperial spanish government s policies favoured spanish-born citizens (peninsulars) on born overseas (criollos) , demanded retroversion of sovereignty people. starting in 1809 spain s american colonies began series of revolutions , declared independence, leading spanish american wars of independence ended spanish control on mainland colonies in americas. king ferdinand vii s attempt re-assert control proved futile faced opposition not in colonies in spain , army revolts followed, led liberal officers. end of 1826, american colonies spain held cuba , puerto rico.

the napoleonic war left spain economically ruined, divided , politically unstable. in 1830s , 1840s anti-liberal forces known carlists fought against liberals in carlist wars. liberal forces won, conflict between progressive , conservative liberals ended in weak constitutional period. after glorious revolution of 1868 , short-lived first spanish republic, more stable monarchic period began characterised practice of turnismo (the rotation of government control between progressive , conservative liberals within spanish government).

proclamation of first spanish republic in barcelona, 1873. francesc pi margall, president , intellectual theoric of federalism.

in late 19th century nationalist movements arose in philippines , cuba. in 1895 , 1896 cuban war of independence , philippine revolution broke out , united states became involved. spanish–american war fought in spring of 1898 , resulted in spain losing last of once vast colonial empire outside of north africa. el desastre (the disaster), war became known in spain, gave added impetus generation of 98 conducting analysis of country.

demonstration in barcelona after tragic week events

although period around turn of century 1 of increasing prosperity, 20th century brought little peace; spain played minor part in scramble africa, colonisation of western sahara, spanish morocco , equatorial guinea. remained neutral during world war (see spain in world war i). heavy losses suffered during rif war in morocco brought discredit government , undermined monarchy.

a period of authoritarian rule under general miguel primo de rivera (1923–1931) ended establishment of second spanish republic. republic offered political autonomy linguistically distinct regions of basque country, catalonia , galicia , gave voting rights women. during period asturian miners strike of 1934 occurred.