The Reign of Queen Elizabeth II: Carlism and Liberalism
The Reign of Queen Elizabeth II
Carlism
The Carlist movement supported the claim to the throne of Ferdinand’s brother, Carlos María Isidro. This movement was linked to the old traditions of the ancien régime, as opposed to the modernity of the liberal revolution.
The main features of Carlism are:
- Political tradition of absolute monarchy.
- Exclusive Catholicism.
- Defense institutions and traditional Basque privileges, Navarre and Catalonia. The Regional Council has been a defining issue of the Carlist movement.
The main supporters of the Carlists were the clergy and the small peasantry in rural areas of the Basque Country, Navarre, and Catalonia.
The First Carlist War was the most violent, with nearly 200,000 deaths. This conflict had international outreach: the absolutist powers and the Pope supported the Carlist side, while England, France, and Portugal supported the Elizabethans.
At the head of the Carlist side was General Cabrera, along with Maroto. Espartero led the Elizabethans.
Negotiations between Espartero and Maroto culminated in the Convention of Vergara, which ended the war in the north.
The Second Carlist War lasted from 1849 to 1860 and was mainly in the Catalan countryside. This time the suitor was Charles IV, son of Carlos María Isidro.
Effects of War
- Monarchy tilt toward liberalism, support for Elizabeth II.
- Military’s political role, a key piece of the liberal regime.
- Huge cost of war, which resulted in measures such as the confiscation of Mendizabal.
First Political Parties
Moderate Party, under General Narvaez, leaned on the landlords, the gentry, and the middle class. It defended the Courts and shared sovereignty between King and gave sweeping powers to the monarch and limited individual rights.
Progressive Party, led by Espartero, whose social base was the small and middle bourgeoisie, such as employees and artisans. It advocated popular sovereignty, represented in Parliament, which should limit the power of the king.
Democratic Party emerged from a split of the Progressive Party, was more radical and its social base was the lower classes.
Liberal Union, led by O’Donnell, was a center party.
Political Developments
Minority Age: Regencies
During the minority of Isabel II, acted as regents first if mother, Maria Cristina, and then the general Espartero.
Progressives and moderates alternated in government, not only politically but also economically.
Personal Reign of Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II’s reign was marked by the absolute predominance of the moderates, leading to a shift toward conservative positions of government, embodied in the Constitution of 1851, which also restored relations with the Vatican.
But there were two periods in which the moderates were out of government:
- During the very progressive, after the pronouncement of General O’Donnell Vicálvaro.
- During the centrist government of the Liberal Union.
Constitutional Process
Royal Charter of 1834 (Moderate)
Courts would be bicameral, consisting of a Statute of Peers appointed by the king, and a Statute of Attorneys, eligible.
The cameras would have a more advisory than legislative role.
Constitution of 1837
This constitution contained: the principle of national sovereignty, the recognition of many citizens’ rights, separation of powers, and limiting the power of the monarchy.
But aspects of the Statute recovering real bicameral Cortes, veto-wielding permanent and census suffrage.