Reign of Elizabeth II of Spain: A Transformative Era
Elizabeth II (1843-1868): A Transformative Era
Definition: The reign of Isabel II (1843-1868) is characterized by the definitive implementation of the liberal system, with changes in all spheres of society and continued political interference by the Queen. This, joined by her staff, will discredit her, resulting in her expulsion from the country in 1868.
Development
1. Laws
The consolidation of liberal laws is done through measures that affect all areas:
1. In the Political Arena:
The draft of moderate liberalism was reflected in the Constitution of 1845, which provided:
- A conservative constitutional monarchy
- Sovereignty shared by the Courts and the King
- Strengthened powers of the Crown (the legislature, could dissolve the courts and veto its decisions)
- Subject of political participation to the great fortunes of the country. Members of the Senate were elected by the Queen, being the upper echelons, while Congress remained an elective chamber, but deputies could only be those with an annual income of 12,000 reales.
- Very restricted census suffrage, the largest contributors in each town and big personalities (no more than 1% of the population voted)
- Act of Municipalities: There is a moderate reform of the law that came from the Cadiz Constitution of 1812 (eliminating their autonomy, cutting its broad powers to restrict their capacity as organs of popular representation)
- Regional Decree of 1844: Remained the municipalities and the General Meetings of Basque Country and Navarre, customs were finally moved to the Pyrenees
2. The Justice System Reform:
Promulgating the Penal Code of 1848, regulation of the various bodies of government officials, etc.
Economic Reforms:
- Using the tax system on the basis of universality
- Confiscation of land from the municipalities by Finance Minister, Pascual Madoz
- New laws and projects of railways and roads
3. Act of Banks, Mines, Corporations, etc.
Social Reforms:
- The Civil Guard was created
- The first law of education of Spain was given
4. Religious Reforms:
Concordat with the Vatican in 1851. Because an important part of the Church had supported the Carlists, with this concordat Isabel gets the recognition of the Church. In exchange for confiscations, the Church is to be included since then in the general state budget (it is subsidized).
2. Characteristics of Political Practice
- Statement of the Crown: Continued support for the moderates, with the power to dissolve the courts and appoint the government. Always chose the more moderate leaders, including people associated with it.
- Scandalous personal life, and making decisions to benefit its lovers
- Two parties with divisions between them: The moderate, headed by Narvaez, and the progressive, whose leader was Espartero.
- Distrust of the opposition. The progressive party, never called to form a government, becomes subdued in the opposition. It increases mistrust, and they are forced to get the power to govern. During the reign of Elizabeth II, by pronouncement, they get to serve two years (Progressive Biennium 1854-1856) but later, the queen never called them to govern.
- Importance of the army: Because it is the only element of real change. The main factor in ruling political change. In addition, Espartero and Narvaez are military.
3. Periods
1. Moderate Decade (1843-1853):
Ended with a statement by the alliance of more progressive moderates and more moderate liberals, led by Generals Espartero and O’Donnell, which leads to the government of both. O’Donnell began to make known to form a new party that will end up calling the Liberal Union, a kind of centrist party.
2. Two Progressive (1854-1856):
- The government was unstable because of divisions between Espartero and O’Donnell
- Important laws were given, especially the confiscation of Pascual Madoz (from land councils), to raise funds.
- Moyano Act, an education law, forcing municipalities to take charge of it. As municipalities were ruined (lands from where they got money were taken, and they were forced to build schools, pay teachers, etc.)
- Emergence of the social question. The workers used the opportunity to appear for the first time in Spain. They started with a campaign to collect signatures throughout the country to ask the courts for the right of association. There were workers’ associations, but they were illegal. Since the government was progressive, they let them make the collection of signatures. Strikes began to emerge (as in Barcelona in July 1855), and the labor question began to be discussed.
- This period ends when O’Donnell makes a new statement against the government.
3. Last Period (1856-68)
- Government of O’Donnell’s Liberal Union, until in 1863 he was forced to resign because of discontent from moderates and progressives, thus increasing social unrest, and Isabella called on the government to moderate again, always unstable governments. There was a major agricultural and financial crisis in 1866, which increased popular discontent.
- FOREIGN POLICY: During the reign of Elizabeth II, there are some interventions abroad, such as:
- Intervention in Indochina in 1858 to support French colonialism
- Rejoined Santo Domingo for three years, from 1861 to 1864.
- Morocco Campaign, launched in 1859. Ceuta and Melilla had Spain but did not increase the territory, although this is a precedent for what will happen by the end of the century when they give the North of Morocco and there is a war.
- The Spanish supported the French, which they in turn supported the candidacy of Maximilian of Austria as emperor of Mexico, but were defeated and Maximilian was executed.
It all comes from imperialism: the belief that a country is strong if it has colonies. The more colonies, the more it proves it, and gets into adventures that get nothing.
The overthrow of the queen results from its continuing prestige (personal, ongoing intervention in politics) and the unity of the opposition in Ostend, a Belgian town, the remains of the Liberal Union, progressives, and Democrats have signed the Ostend Pact (1866) to organize an action against the queen. In Cadiz, in 1868 the Navy made a statement against the queen that wins. Elizabeth II leaves the country, ending her reign.