Reign of Isabel II: Moderate Decade & Progressive Biennium
ITEM 15. Reign of Isabel II (1843 – 1868)
Moderate Decade (1844 – 1854)
After the fall of Espartero in 1843 and the proclamation of the coming of age of Isabel II, the moderates came to power with the support of the Crown. This began a period of moderate governments that lasted ten years, ending in 1854 with the progressive military coup known as the “Vicalvarada.” The 1844 elections gave the majority to the moderates, who formed a new government headed by General Narváez. He promoted a policy based
Read MorePost-WWII Geopolitics: Yalta, Potsdam, Cold War & Decolonization
Peace Conferences: Yalta and Potsdam
Allies: Learning from Treaty of Versailles Mistakes
The beginning of the discussion was about what resources were needed to achieve sustainable peace. The power demonstrated in the two World Wars was a main event, and the new world order had to reflect that. At the Yalta Conference, with Stalin, Roosevelt, and Churchill, the fate of Nazi-occupied Europe was discussed following the evolving European situation. Soviet forces had already liberated much of Eastern
Read MoreEarly Spanish Labor Movements: Genesis, Conditions, and Ideologies
Genesis and Development of Worker Movement in Spain
The 1860 census reveals the workforce structure:
- Day laborers were the largest group, primarily in the south (Andalusia).
- Workers and miners comprised 2.5% of the workforce, concentrated in Catalonia.
Living Conditions
The working class faced harsh conditions:
- Over twelve-hour workdays
- Lower wages for women and children
- Job insecurity
- Lack of hygiene in homes and workplaces
- No welfare state (vacation pay, etc.)
Agricultural laborers’ conditions were worse:
Read MorePeninsular War: Uprising, Resistance, and Liberation from French Rule
The French Invasion and War
Traits of War
The abdication of the Spanish royal family and their replacement by a French monarch enraged the Spanish people. On May 2, 1808, Madrid rose against the occupying French troops. News of the events in Madrid spread, triggering anti-French uprisings throughout Spain. The May 1808 uprisings escalated into a war with a tragic loss of life, resulting in over 300,000 deaths, widespread destruction, and looting. It was a national and popular war, a Spanish war, and
Read MoreThe Making of Modern Spain: Democracy and the 1978 Constitution
1. The Spanish Transition to Democracy and the Constitution of 1878
Timeframe
Political transition process of dismantling the Franco dictatorship and its replacement by a democratic regime. Strictly speaking, it begins with the death of Franco and ends with the approval of the Constitution. Some push the starting point to 1969 or, more importantly, 1973. Some cite the date 1982 with the arrival of the PSOE to power, claiming two reasons:
- The change in power was a sign of democratic stability.
- In 1978,
Building the Spanish Liberal State: Reforms, Conflicts, and Crises (1833-1868)
The Emergence of a Liberal State (1833-1843)
During the Carlist War, the Elizabethan side attracted liberals, leading to the creation of a Liberal State. The first government (1833-1836), under the regency of Maria Cristina Bermudez, initially appointed absolutists. However, advisors urged the regent to empower liberals for broader support. This resulted in the appointment of Martínez de la Rosa and the enactment of the Royal Statute (1834), introducing shared sovereignty and establishing Crown
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