Transition to Liberal Monarchy in Spain (1833-1854)

Posted on Oct 7, 2024 in History

Regency of María Cristina (1833-1840)

The death of Fernando VII led to the succession of his minor daughter, Isabel II, under the regency of María Cristina. This period marked the beginning of a gradual transition from the Old Regime to a Liberal Monarchy. Reforms included:

  • Territorial division into provinces
  • Trade liberalization
  • Transport and industry development
  • Rebirth of the National Militia

The Royal Charter of 1834 attempted to reconcile absolutism and liberalism.

Carlist War (1833-1839)

Led by Don Carlos, this civil war pitted supporters of liberalism against defenders of the Old Regime. It had international implications, with England supporting María Cristina and Austria backing the Carlists. Initial Carlist victories in the Basque Country and Levante were followed by a failed attempt to conquer Madrid in 1837. The war concluded with the Convention of Vergara in 1839.

Consequences of the Carlist War:
  • Strengthened the bond between the monarchy and liberalism.
  • Liberal generals gained political prominence.
  • Significant loss of life and economic damage.
  • Further Carlist uprisings occurred in 1846-1849 and 1872-1876.

Agrarian Transformations and the End of the Feudal System

Progressive liberal economic reforms aimed to introduce agrarian capitalism:

  • Abolition of mayorazgo, allowing nobles to sell their land to the bourgeoisie.
  • Ecclesiastical Confiscation of 1837, expropriating church land for public auction.
Objectives of the Confiscation:
  • Develop agrarian capitalism.
  • Generate state revenue.
  • Weaken the Church’s financial power.
Consequences of the Confiscation:
  • Did not lead to land redistribution among peasants.
  • Failed to significantly reduce the national debt.
  • Strengthened the Church’s alliance with Carlism.
  • Enriched the bourgeoisie and expanded their land ownership.

Regency of Espartero (1840-1843)

In 1839, the Moderate Party, with María Cristina’s support, ousted the progressive liberals. Espartero, a progressive leader, led a popular revolution that expelled María Cristina and installed himself as regent. He resumed progressive reforms but faced growing opposition due to his increasingly authoritarian rule. An 1842 rebellion in Barcelona, sparked by a free trade agreement with the United Kingdom, led to Espartero’s removal and exile.

The Moderate Decade (1844-1854)

The Moderate government consolidated power under General Narváez, with the support of the army and the crown. Isabel II was declared of age and assumed the throne.

Constitution of 1845

The Moderates drafted a new constitution based on:

  • Shared sovereignty between the monarch and the Cortes.
  • A bicameral Cortes with a Senate appointed by the Queen and a Congress elected by a highly restricted electorate.
  • State Catholicism.
  • Provincial administrative centralization.
  • A unified financial system.
  • A new penal code and promotion of public education.
  • Establishment of the Civil Guard.
  • Improved relations with the Church.

Opposition to the Moderate Government

  • Progressive Party: Blocked from power by electoral fraud, they resorted to military coups.
  • Democrats: Advocated for more radical reforms, including universal suffrage, religious tolerance, and greater social equality.