Mendizabal’s Disentailment: Impact on 19th Century Spain
Mendizabal’s Disentailment
This letter concerns the expropriation of land from the Church and is addressed to Maria Cristina, the Queen at the time. It was written by Mendizabal in 1836 and is a primary source.
The Rise of Liberalism in Spain
The liberal system began to take root in Spain after the death of Ferdinand VII. Key characteristics of this system included executive power vested in the crown and a leading role for the army. Suffrage was limited, based on income.
Moderate vs. Progressive Liberalism
Within this liberalism, two main trends emerged: moderate and progressive. The government shifted between these two factions. The Moderates held office for longer periods and advocated for very limited suffrage.
While differences existed between Moderates and Progressives, they both accepted a minimum set of conditions to ensure state stability. One key difference was suffrage: the Moderates favored limited suffrage based on income, while the Progressives also favored limited suffrage, but with a wider base. Progressives also supported lower taxes. Another significant difference was military service: compulsory under the Moderates, but voluntary under the Progressives, who favored a National Militia (which was suppressed by the Moderates). Finally, under the Moderates, mayors and councils were appointed by the government, whereas the Progressives advocated for locally elected town halls, meaning mayors and councils were chosen democratically.
Land Problems and the Lack of Industrial Development
Industry failed to develop under this Liberal System, leading to land problems. Agriculture was the dominant sector, but it was old-fashioned, and the land was over-exploited to increase production. This traditional approach hindered industrial development. Furthermore, most people working the land were not the owners; the land was primarily owned by the wealthy and the Church. This ownership structure influenced how peasants worked the land.
Maria Cristina’s Law: Justifications
Several reasons justified the law enacted by Maria Cristina. Firstly, there were public debts, where wealthy individuals lent money to the state, which was then repaid with interest (using Vales Reales). Secondly, there was a need for more land: as the population grew, so did the demand for food, necessitating more land. Lastly, there was a need to improve communications and commercial networks. The construction of railroads and other improvements were needed, partly because the Church’s land was affected by expropriation.
Economic Consequences of Disentailment
In conclusion, evaluating the importance of the law is essential. Economically, the land was not purchased by those who would work it, leading to the creation of new owners, primarily wealthy individuals, rather than peasants. Consequently, agricultural innovation was hindered due to these land ownership issues.
Social and Political Ramifications
Socially, the state and perhaps the bourgeoisie benefited most from the land sales. The peasants’ situation remained largely unchanged: they did not become landowners and continued working for others.
Politically, the Church resented the Progressives due to this policy. Carlism gained influence as the Church was upset with the government. This led to a breakdown in relations between the Church and the state, resulting in confrontation.