Editing Amadeo I of Spain (section)

==== First Government of Ruiz Zorrilla: Division of the Progressives ====
[[File:Madrid - La première revue passée à Madrid par le roi Amédée, en l'honneur du prince Humbert (D'après le croquis de M. Urrabieta).jpg|thumb|Amadeo I reviewing troops in Madrid, September 1871, by [[Daniel Vierge]].]]

On July 15, 1871, radical ministers—[[Manuel Ruiz Zorrilla]], [[Cristino Martos y Balbí|Cristino Martos]], {{Interlanguage link|José María Beránger|es|José María Beránger}}, and [[Segismundo Moret|Moret]]—resigned from Serrano's “conciliation” government, aiming to end its broad coalition and force a split between conservatives and radicals. King Amadeo I, still favoring unity, reluctantly appointed Ruiz Zorrilla as president on July 24, sidelining both Unionists and Sagasta's Progressives in their plan to sustain the coalition amid regime threats.{{Sfn|Vilches|2001|pp=162-168}} Ruiz Zorrilla sought to include [[Práxedes Mateo Sagasta|Sagasta]]’s faction, but Sagasta refused, arguing in Congress that an “exclusive party” policy endangered the monarchy.{{Sfn|Vilches|2001|p=168}}

Ruiz Zorrilla then formed a government of his Progressive faction and Democrats, taking the Interior portfolio himself. The cabinet included [[Eugenio Montero Ríos]] (Justice), General [[Fernando Fernández de Córdova]] (War), [[Servando Ruiz-Gómez y González-Llanos|Servando Ruiz Gómez]] (Finance), {{Interlanguage link|Santiago Diego-Madrazo|es|Santiago Diego-Madrazo}} (Public Works), Tomás María Mosquera (Overseas), and Vice-Admiral {{Interlanguage link|José María Beránger|es|José María Beránger}} (Navy). Martos declined the State Ministry. Presented to the Cortes on July 25, the government's motto—“liberty, morality, civility”—signaled a reformist agenda.{{Sfn|Vilches|2001|pp=168-169}}

Tensions escalated when Democrats maneuvered to replace [[Salustiano de Olózaga y Almandoz|Salustiano Olózaga]] as Congress president with their leader [[Nicolás María Rivero]]. Sagasta's Progressives countered by nominating Sagasta, fearing Rivero's republican leanings. On October 1–2, Ruiz Zorrilla and Sagasta met to avert a Progressive split, but Ruiz Zorrilla rejected Sagasta's compromise candidate, prioritizing his radical-Democrat ({{Interlanguage link|Cimbrios|es|Cimbrios (política)}}) alliance over party unity. Sagasta warned, “You stay with the cimbrios and break with your long-standing friends; the consequences will be dire.” On October 3, Sagasta defeated Rivero (123–113) for Congress president, a result Ruiz Zorrilla saw as a no-confidence vote, prompting his resignation.{{Sfn|Vilches|2001|pp=172-178}}

Amadeo, returning from a popularity-boosting tour of eastern Spain—including a visit to General [[Baldomero Espartero|Espartero]] in Logroño, who pledged loyalty—refused Ruiz Zorrilla's request to dissolve the Cortes, citing no constitutional basis or formal censure. Sagasta confirmed ongoing support for the July 25 program and urged the king to convince Ruiz Zorrilla to stay, highlighting the government's intact majority.{{Sfn|Vilches|2001|pp=179-183}}