Editing Amadeo I of Spain (section)

===== Birth of the Constitutional Party and the “National Coalition” =====
[[File:A las urnas, de Pellicer.jpg|thumb|Caricature by [[Josep Lluís Pellicer]], La coalición nacional, {{Interlanguage link|Gil Blas (Madrid)|es|Gil Blas}}, March 10, 1872.]]

Sagasta's Progressives and Unionists formed an electoral committee on January 22, issuing a manifesto summarizing the government's program. Unionists pushed for a single party, but Sagasta envisioned a “third party” blending both sides to reunite Progressives. Amadeo intervened, tasking Unionist [[José Luis Albareda y Sezde|José Luis Albareda]] with drafting a plan for a Conservative Party to alternate with Radicals. Facing royal pressure—and after briefly resigning—Sagasta relented. On February 21, 1872, the [[Constitutional Party (Spain)|Constitutional Party]] emerged, aiming to defend “Liberty, the Constitution of 1869, the dynasty of Amadeo I, and territorial integrity.” The reshuffled cabinet balanced four Progressives and three Unionists under Sagasta.{{Sfn|Vilches|2001|pp=237-244}}

The Radicals, seeking to topple the government, expanded their December 1871 “National Coalition” with Republicans to include Carlists and later [[Moderate Party (Spain)|Alfonsist Moderates]]. United by the goal of “defeating the government, the fruit of immorality and lies,” they used patriotic slogans like “Spain for the Spaniards,” championed by Republican [[Emilio Castelar]]. The coalition agreed to field one candidate per district—favoring the strongest prior performer—to maximize votes.{{Sfn|Vilches|2001|pp=287-291}}