Division of Liberalism in Spain: Moderates vs. Progressives

Posted on Oct 28, 2024 in History

Division of Liberalism in Spain

Third Feature: Division of Liberalism

Spanish liberalism during the 19th century was divided into two main groups:

Moderate Liberals

  • Origins: Former doceañistas who participated in the Cortes of Cadiz.
  • Ideology:
    • Doctrinaire Liberalism: Sovereignty resides in the courts and the Crown.
    • Strong Executive: Favored a more powerful executive branch over the legislative branch.
    • Bicameral Cortes: Supported a bicameral parliament with a Congress of Deputies (elected) and a Senate (appointed by the Crown).
    • Administrative Centralism: Advocated for centralized administration with elected mayors and council members.
    • Limited Individual Rights: Believed in limiting individual rights like freedom of the press and opinion.
    • Confessional State: Supported Catholicism as the state religion.
    • Economic Protectionism: Favored domestic industries through tariffs on foreign goods.
    • Indirect Taxation: Preferred indirect taxes over direct taxes.
    • Right to Private Property: Considered private property a fundamental right.
    • Restrictive Census Suffrage: Supported a very limited voting franchise based on property ownership.
  • Social Base: Nobility, landowners, and the upper middle class (bankers, merchants, officials).
  • Influence: Held power in parliament, government, public administration, and controlled the press.

Fifth Feature: The Constitution of 1837

Background: The Mutiny of the Sergeants of La Granja in August 1836 led to the repeal of the Royal Statute and the restoration of the Constitution of 1812. The Constitution of 1837 was then approved on June 18, 1837.

Nature: Progressive with some concessions to moderate thought, such as a royally appointed Senate.

Main Features:

  • National Sovereignty.
  • Separation of Powers.
  • Legislative Power: Vested in the Cortes (bicameral parliament) and the King. The Congress of Deputies was elected based on census suffrage, while the Senate was appointed by the King. Laws required approval by both houses, except for fiscal matters. The Cortes had oversight over government ministers.
  • Executive Power: Vested in the Crown, with the following functions:
    • Legislative initiative.
    • Unlimited veto power.
    • Appointment of government ministers.
    • Power to summon, suspend, and dissolve the Cortes.
    • Appointment of senators.
    • No political accountability.
  • Declaration of Individual Rights: More extensive than the Constitution of Cadiz.
  • Religious Freedom: Forbade the worship of other religions but obligated the state to support the Catholic Church.

Moderate Dominance: The Moderates held power from 1844-1854 (the “Moderate Decade”) and again, with some variations, from 1856-1868. Key Moderate leaders included Martínez de la Rosa and Narváez.

Progressive Liberals

  • Origins: Veinteañistas liberals from the Trienio Liberal.
  • Ideology:
    • National Sovereignty.
    • Strong Legislature: Advocated for a more powerful legislature than the executive.
    • Limited Crown Powers: Sought to limit the powers and privileges of the Crown.
    • Bicameral Cortes: Supported a bicameral parliament with an elected Senate.
    • Administrative Decentralization.
    • Individual Rights: Favored expanding individual rights, like freedom of the press, but not collective rights like freedom of association.
    • Separation of Church and State.
    • Free Trade: Supported free trade and opposed protectionism, advocating for the removal or reduction of tariffs on foreign goods.
    • Direct Taxation: Preferred direct taxes over indirect taxes.
    • Broader Census Suffrage: Supported a broader voting franchise based on property ownership.
  • Social Base: Urban middle classes (small manufacturers, retailers, military officers, professionals).
  • Influence: Active in the militia, secret societies, and resorted to military coups to gain power due to the restrictive nature of the Moderate Constitution of 1845.
  • Periods in Power: Held power from 1835-1844 and again during the “Progressive Biennium” from 1854-1856. Key Progressive leaders included Espartero, Mendizábal, and Madoz.
Democratic Progressives

Beginning in 1849, a group known as the “Democratic Progressives” emerged within the Progressive movement, advocating for:

  • Universal suffrage.
  • State assistance for the disadvantaged.
  • Social rights, such as freedom of association and assembly.