Spain’s Liberal State: 1833-1874
The Construction of a Liberal State (1833-1874)
With the 1812 Constitution, Spain began the construction of a Liberal State.
It was with the arrival of Ferdinand VII’s daughter, Isabella II, that liberalism truly took hold, spurred by the Carlist Wars. However, these events would eventually lead to the end of her reign in 1868.
As Ferdinand VII died when Isabella was only three years old, her mother, Maria Cristina, was named Regent. However, the king’s younger brother, Carlos, also claimed the throne. This dispute initiated the First Carlist War, dividing the country between Liberalists (supporters of Maria Cristina) and Absolutists (supporters of Carlos). The war began in 1833 and lasted six years, concluding in 1839 when Espartero and Maroto signed a peace treaty.
Among the significant liberal changes that occurred during this period, Disentailment stands out as a crucial one. This liberal economic policy was implemented by Minister Mendizábal.
It consisted of nationalizing lands owned by the Church and auctioning them publicly, which considerably boosted the economy.
Liberalists aimed to eliminate the practices of entailed and dead hands.
The lands were acquired by those who could afford them: nobles and the bourgeoisie. This shift pushed nobles towards liberalism, made the Church an enemy, and burdened peasants with more expensive land contracts. The situation worsened in 1855 when municipal lands were also sold.
Espartero became the next regent, thanks to his fame after the Carlist War. He did not respect the “foruak” (Basque privileges) as he had promised. His own party opposed him, leading to his exile. At the age of 13, Isabella was declared queen, solidifying liberalism’s hold on power.
Military coups d’état became common, with the military demanding changes in the government. Rebels either accepted or rejected these demands. Although Espartero was progressive, the majority of military leaders, like General Narváez, were conservative.
Narváez, seeking power, used oppression to achieve his goals. During the following years, power alternated between Espartero and conservative generals.
In 1868, the Gloriosa Revolution, led by Prim, took place. This revolution ended the Bourbon monarchy and initiated the Revolutionary Six Years. Prim searched for a new liberal king, finding Amadeo of Savoy. However, Amadeo’s reign was short-lived due to Prim’s death and Spanish discontent, which triggered the Second Carlist War and led to Amadeo’s abdication.
After these numerous challenges, the proposed solution was the First Republic, which was divided between Federalists and Unitarians. The Republic faced many problems, including the Cuban War and the Carlist War in the North.
In 1874, General Martínez Campos ended the Republic and restored the monarchy under Alfonso XII, ushering in a new era: the Restoration.
The Liberals were divided into Progressives and Moderates. During the Revolutionary Six Years, Republicans and Democrats also emerged.
New constitutions were proclaimed in 1869 and 1873.
Spanish political instability persisted in the following years, and it did not improve with the Restoration, which proved to be an unfair and corrupt system, squandering another opportunity for meaningful change.
In the 19th century, the foundations of a Liberal State were established, ending Absolutism and transforming the economy. However, modernization was so slow that Spain became an outdated nation with limited resources and a deeply unequal society.