Spain’s Political Turmoil: From Regency to Moderate Rule (1833-1854)
The Carlist Wars and the Regency of Maria Cristina (1833-1841)
Regency of Maria Cristina
Upon the death of Ferdinand VII in 1833, Maria Cristina de Borbón assumed the regency for her daughter, Isabel II. The Liberals, the sole force capable of securing the throne, formed a government under Maria Cristina. Martinez de la Rosa, a moderate liberal, initiated a series of reforms, including the Royal Charter of 1834.
The Royal Charter of 1834
This charter established a bicameral Cortes, comprised of the House of Peers (appointed by the monarch) and the Chamber of Deputies (elected by a limited census suffrage). Suffrage was restricted to men over thirty with a substantial annual income. The Cortes had limited powers, with the monarch retaining the right to convene, adjourn, and veto legislation.
The Division of the Liberals
The Royal Charter’s shortcomings led to a split within the Liberals, forming two factions: the Moderates and the Progressives. This division mirrored the earlier split during the Liberal Triennium.
Progressive Liberals
The Progressive Liberals, formerly known as radicals, advocated for:
- Limiting the Crown’s power
- Expanding freedoms
- Radical reforms (e.g., church property confiscation)
- Broadening suffrage
- Local elections
- Economic liberalism and reduced tariffs
- A National Militia to safeguard freedoms
Their support base consisted of the urban middle class. Key leaders included Espartero, Mendizabal, Madoz, Olózaga, and Prim. They held power briefly during 1835-1844 and 1854-1856. Their most significant achievement was the Constitution of 1837. By 1849, a further split led to the formation of the Democratic Party, advocating for universal suffrage and a welfare state.
Moderate Liberals
The Moderate Liberals, originating from the doceanistas of the Triennium, favored:
- Strong authority and order
- Limited freedoms
- Restricted suffrage
- Centrally appointed municipalities
- Abolition of the National Militia
They drew support from the upper classes. Key figures included Martínez de la Rosa, Narváez, and Mon. Their program was implemented through the Constitution of 1845 and subsequent legislation.
The Constitution of 1837
In 1836, amidst the Carlist War, the Sergeants of La Granja forced the Regent to suspend the Royal Charter and reinstate the 1812 Constitution. Maria Cristina then appointed the Progressives to power. As the 1812 Constitution was unacceptable to the Moderates, a process of reform began.
Characteristics of the 1837 Constitution
- National sovereignty
- Division of powers:
- Bicameral Cortes (Congress of Deputies and Senate)
- King as head of the executive branch
- Monarch with legislative initiative, absolute veto, power to appoint senators and ministers, and the right to dissolve the Cortes
- Ministers requiring “double trust” (appointed by the King and accepted by the Cortes)
- Individual rights and freedom of the press
- State subsidies for the clergy
An electoral law in 1837 established census-based male suffrage.
The Fall of Maria Cristina and Espartero’s Regency (1841-1843)
Opposition to the Municipal Law of 1840 led to Maria Cristina’s resignation. General Espartero became Regent (1841-1843). He accelerated church property confiscation and curtailed Basque-Navarre privileges. A free trade agreement with England sparked protests in Barcelona, leading to Espartero’s downfall.
The Moderate Decade (1844-1854)
Upon ascending the throne in 1843, Isabel II favored the Moderates. General Narváez formed a government in 1844. Key measures during this decade included:
- Creation of the Civil Guard (1844)
- Municipal Law of 1845 (centralized mayoral appointments)
- Tax reform of 1845 (Mon’s modern system)
- Electoral Law of 1846 (oligarchic, restricted suffrage)
- Concordat of 1851 (agreement with the Holy See)
- Constitution of 1845 (shared sovereignty, state Catholicism, reduced individual rights)