1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:09,600 In the 19th century, Spain was going through a period of political and social instability. 2 00:00:09,600 --> 00:00:14,640 The country had experienced a series of internal conflicts, including the Carlist wars between 3 00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:19,240 conservatives and liberalists that fought for the Spanish throne, and the revolution 4 00:00:19,240 --> 00:00:25,920 of 1868 that overthrew Queen Isabel II, established a provisional government, and marked the start 5 00:00:25,920 --> 00:00:31,320 of a period known as el sexenio democrático, in which the country was modernized through 6 00:00:31,320 --> 00:00:34,480 political, economic, and social reforms. 7 00:00:34,480 --> 00:00:39,240 During these years, different political factions were formed and regional tensions emerged. 8 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:45,760 Moreover, the country faced economic and military changes, which led to uncertainty about Spain's 9 00:00:45,760 --> 00:00:46,760 future. 10 00:00:46,760 --> 00:00:51,720 In this context, the need for a profound political and social reform that allowed Spain to get 11 00:00:51,720 --> 00:00:57,480 out of its stagnation became obvious. 12 00:00:57,480 --> 00:01:04,480 Amadeo I de Savoia was an Italian king who brutally reigned in Spain from 1871 to 1873. 13 00:01:04,480 --> 00:01:09,080 When he first arrived in Spain, he attended the Basilica of Atocha to pray for the death 14 00:01:09,080 --> 00:01:13,120 of General Prim, his main supporter, who had been assassinated. 15 00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:20,000 This already made the start of his reign difficult because he had very few people on his side. 16 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:24,720 During his reign, a combination of factors contributed to political and social instability. 17 00:01:24,720 --> 00:01:29,520 Firstly, he faced opposition from various political groups who were unsatisfied with 18 00:01:29,520 --> 00:01:32,800 his government and wanted to restore the republic. 19 00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:37,440 There were regional conflicts and internal tensions, such as the nationalist rising in 20 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:39,360 several Spanish cities. 21 00:01:39,360 --> 00:01:43,640 Furthermore, Amadeo I struggled with the country's economic problems. 22 00:01:43,640 --> 00:01:48,200 This generated discontent and mistrust among the population. 23 00:01:48,400 --> 00:01:53,240 Also, some European powers, such as France and Prussia, showed little support towards 24 00:01:53,240 --> 00:02:00,360 his reign, weakening his position and increasing the difficulties of governing. 25 00:02:00,360 --> 00:02:05,120 With the combination of challenges and pressures, Amadeo I made the decision to abdicate in 26 00:02:05,120 --> 00:02:11,400 February 1873, acknowledging that he could not maintain stability and order in the country. 27 00:02:11,400 --> 00:02:16,280 Although his reign was short, he is recognized for his attempt to bring stability and progress 28 00:02:16,360 --> 00:02:18,960 to Spain during a time of crisis. 29 00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:23,160 His abdication ultimately led to the end of the monarchy in Spain and the establishment 30 00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:26,040 of the first Spanish Republic. 31 00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:31,080 In February 1873, elections were called for the formation of a new government. 32 00:02:31,080 --> 00:02:35,320 These elections resulted in the creation of a coalition of the Republican and Democratic 33 00:02:35,320 --> 00:02:39,360 parties, which achieved an overwhelming victory at the polls. 34 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:46,280 On February 11, 1873, the first Spanish Republic was proclaimed, with Stanislao Figueras as 35 00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:50,560 the President of the Republic. 36 00:02:50,560 --> 00:02:55,160 Later on, three other presidents were named, Francisco P. I. Margal, who ruled from June 37 00:02:55,160 --> 00:03:02,480 11 to July 18, Nicolás Sanmerón from July 18 to September 6, and Emilio Castellari Ripoll 38 00:03:02,480 --> 00:03:07,160 from September 7 to January 3. 39 00:03:07,160 --> 00:03:10,520 During the First Republic, many important political and social reforms were carried 40 00:03:10,520 --> 00:03:14,960 out, which had as the main aim modernizing the country and ending with the politics of 41 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:15,960 the Ancien Regime. 42 00:03:15,960 --> 00:03:22,600 These new reforms included the establishment of a new constitution that recognized political 43 00:03:22,600 --> 00:03:27,680 and social rights, such as freedom of association, press and worship. 44 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:31,000 In addition, special courts and religious orders were abolished. 45 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:36,040 A new, more efficient and less corrupt public administration was created. 46 00:03:36,040 --> 00:03:40,680 The land was redistributed between the peasants, however, this didn't work out because of 47 00:03:40,680 --> 00:03:45,680 the owners' deposition and the lack of resources. 48 00:03:45,680 --> 00:03:47,840 The education system was modernized. 49 00:03:47,840 --> 00:03:52,480 Public non-religious schools were created and teachers received proper training. 50 00:03:52,480 --> 00:03:56,800 There were attempts made to modernize the army by eliminating the figure of the Captain 51 00:03:56,800 --> 00:04:02,480 General and the creation of a national militia, as well as the end of the Iron Discipline 52 00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:04,240 and the military hierarchies. 53 00:04:04,240 --> 00:04:07,880 But these reforms also failed. 54 00:04:07,880 --> 00:04:12,640 The First Spanish Republic had a very short duration, barely a year, and was marked by 55 00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:16,760 its political instability and internal and external conflicts. 56 00:04:16,760 --> 00:04:22,600 In January 1874, the General Manuel Pavia carried out a coup that led to the proclamation 57 00:04:22,600 --> 00:04:27,560 of a provisional government that ultimately led to the return to power of the monarchy 58 00:04:27,560 --> 00:04:33,120 and the Bourbonic Restoration with Alfonso XII as king. 59 00:04:33,120 --> 00:04:37,280 The aim of the restoration was to create a new political system to ensure the stability 60 00:04:37,280 --> 00:04:38,280 of the country. 61 00:04:38,280 --> 00:04:44,680 On 29 December 1874, General Asencio Martínez Campos staged a coup d'état proclaiming 62 00:04:44,680 --> 00:04:49,000 his support for Alfonso XII, Isabel's second son, as king of Spain. 63 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:53,720 In a place near Sahunto called Las Alquerietas, Martínez Campos gave a brief speech to his 64 00:04:53,720 --> 00:04:58,200 soldiers and proclaimed Alfonso XII the Bourbon king of Spain, in the name of the army and 65 00:04:58,200 --> 00:04:59,200 of the nation. 66 00:04:59,200 --> 00:05:03,000 This act marked the beginning of the restoration of the Bourbons to the Spanish throne, putting 67 00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:05,080 an end to the instability of the country. 68 00:05:05,080 --> 00:05:10,520 This monarchy period ended on 14 April of 1931 with the proclamation of the Second Spanish 69 00:05:10,520 --> 00:05:13,400 Republic. 70 00:05:13,400 --> 00:05:17,260 The First Republic left an important legacy in the fight for individual and collective 71 00:05:17,260 --> 00:05:22,160 social rights, the promotion of republicanism and democracy, and citizen participation in 72 00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:24,080 the political life of the country. 73 00:05:24,080 --> 00:05:28,840 Furthermore, it is considered as a period of reforms and conflicts that tried to modernize 74 00:05:28,840 --> 00:05:31,440 the country and end the remains of the ancient regime.