Isabel II’s Reign: Political Parties and Key Events

Posted on Feb 16, 2025 in History

Reign of Isabel II (1843-1868)

During the 25-year reign of Isabel II, two political parties alternated in government:

  • Moderate Party: Led by Narváez. Shared sovereignty; restricted suffrage; Catholic state; Limitation of individual rights.
  • Progressive Party: Led by Espartero. National sovereignty; Less restrictive suffrage; Freedom of religion; Large individual rights.

The Queen favored moderate governments, so the progressives could only access power through uprisings. Two new parties emerged: the Liberal Union (between moderates and progressives) and the Democratic Party (split from the progressive party).

The Moderate Decade (1844-1854)

Narváez was the president of the government, leading to a period of relative stability. The Constitution of 1845 was established:

  • Shared Sovereignty between the crown and Courts
  • Catholicism as the state religion
  • Limitation of individual rights
  • The crown could dissolve the parliament and had veto power
  • Bicameral system: Congress (census suffrage) / Senate (chosen by the crown)

Main legislative measures included:

  • Electoral law: 1% of the population could vote
  • Press law: censorship
  • Creation of the Guardia Civil (1844) to guarantee public order
  • Concordat of 1851: The Pope recognized the liberal regime in exchange for economic support
  • Law Mon y Santillán (1845): Tax collection was generalized, including direct and indirect taxes
  • A new Civil and Penal Code

These measures provoked the Second Carlist War (1846-1849).

The Progressive Two-Year Government (1854-1856)

The Vicalvarada: General O’Donnell (moderate) and General Serrano joined and proclaimed the Manifest of Manzanares. Their promises of reforms guaranteed the support of progressives and the Democratic Party. Isabel II appointed Espartero to direct the government, who appointed O’Donnell minister of war. O’Donnell founded the Liberal Union in 1854, representing centrism. During this government, legal reforms were carried out. A Constitution was written in 1856, but never published.

Economic:

  • Confiscation of Madoz (1855): Affected the properties of the church and city councils. Failure: peasants could not access to buy the lands and large states increased in Andalusia, Extremadura and La Mancha.
  • Creation of Banco de España
  • Law of Railway: to develop communications. Failure: materials were imported.

1855: Social conflicts (inflation and labor movement) provoked the fall of Espartero.

Alternation Between Moderates and the Liberal Union

O’Donnell restored the old system of alternation (turnismo político) between unionists (O’Donnell) and liberal moderates (Narváez). The long government: The Gobierno Largo of O’Donnell (1856-1868) brought stability. The War of Marruecos (Prim stood out), and military expeditions were sent to Mexico and Conchinchina (Vietnam). Pact of Ostende (1866): From 1863-68, moderates and unionists were incapable of solving the economic and social problems. In exile, Prim (progressive) signed a pact with the Democratic Party to overthrow Isabel II. O’Donnell’s successor, Serrano, agreed with the pact. In September 1868, the Revolución Gloriosa o Septembrina began.

Crisis of 1866

After the death of Narváez and O’Donnell, Isabel II lacked political support. There was also an agrarian and financial crisis, unemployment, and scandals. Many revolts took place, such as La Noche de San Daniel (1865) and Los Sargentos del Cuartel de San Gil (1866).

The First Republic (1873)

The First Republic began in 1873 when Amadeo I abdicated. Support came from republicans, while opposition came from the high-middle class, landowners, the high hierarchy of the army, and the church.

Difficulties:

  • Division of republicans
  • Rejection of the Carlists
  • Third Carlist War and the war in Cuba
  • Lack of international support

Aims:

  • Separate the church and state
  • Reduction of voting age (21)
  • Constitutional project to set up a federal republic
  • Regulation of child labor
  • Abolition of slavery in Cuba and Puerto Rico

The Four Governments

Figueras, Pi y Margall, Salmerón, and Castelar had to deal with:

  • Third Carlist War; they established an alternative government in Estella (Navarra).
  • The Cantonal Rebellions: Valencia, Murcia, and Andalusia revolted against Madrid.
  • The War in Cuba (1868-1878)
  • Military Conspiracies by Alfonsinos: for the return of the Bourbon dynasty.