The policy on the street: use of public space in La Rioja during the Trienio Liberal

Abstract

The beginning of the constitutional era in Spain provoked great public manifestations in favor of the new political system. In La Rioja, mainly in the Trienio Liberal, mass acts proliferated in support of the 1812 Constitution, its symbols and its institutions. For this reason, public spaces were taken as an ideal environment for the people to show their support for the upcoming changes. The most important events were organized on the occasion of the approval of the Constitution, but other acts took place to protest against the attacks on the tombstones of the Constitution, the opening of the Cortes, or the presence of heroes of liberalism in La Rioja, such as general Riego. The reply from the absolutists also happened in the public sphere, which led to a war for the symbols.

Keywords

• liberalismo
• constitucionalismo
• absolutismo
• espacio público
• la rioja