19th Century Spanish History: Reforms and Conflicts
Ports Francs in the Canary Islands
The Ports Francs Act involved economic measures liberalizing the entry and exit of goods in the Canary archipelago. This boosted the islands’ economy and provided tax incentives for trade. The islands’ economy was historically not complementary to mainland Spain’s, leading to their main markets being outside Spanish territories (except for the American colonies, with which strong commercial ties existed until their independence).
Cantonal Insurrection
The Cantonal insurrection was a movement advocating radical federalism. It aimed to divide the state into nearly independent cantons (subnational territorial entities). The goal was to establish a confederation of cities or regions with significant autonomy.
Disentailment
Disentailment involved auctioning off unproductive lands held by the “dead hands” (typically the Catholic Church, religious orders, and nobility). The aim was to boost national wealth, create a middle class of landowners, and amortize debt securities. This became a key political tool for Liberals to reshape land ownership and establish a liberal bourgeois state.
Carlism
Carlism was an anti-liberal and anti-revolutionary movement supporting an alternative Bourbon branch to the Spanish throne. Its origins trace back to the Old Regime. In the 20th century, the Carlist Party evolved into self-managed socialism.
Coup d’état
A coup d’état is the sudden, violent takeover of power by a group, violating established legitimacy. There are two main types: institutional coups (from within the government) and military coups (by the armed forces).
Territorial Division of 1833
Regent Maria Cristina de Borbón attempted to reconcile with Carlist supporters. While these efforts failed, her government implemented a significant reform: the division of Spain into 49 provinces. This centralized state structure, established by Javier de Burgos in November 1833, largely remains in place today. Provinces were named after their capitals (with exceptions like Navarra, Álava, Guipúzcoa, and Biscay).
Spanish Constitutions
Constitution of 1837
Following elections, a new constitution was approved in 1837. This constitution embraced doctrinaire liberalism, granting the crown moderating power while preserving national sovereignty, citizen rights (including press, opinion, association, petition, and property), and the separation of powers. The absence of a confessional Catholic state reflected progressive aspirations.
Constitution of 1845
With the Moderates in power under Narváez, the 1845 Constitution curbed the progressive elements of the 1837 version. It emphasized conservative principles like joint sovereignty of the King and Cortes, expanded executive power, recognized Catholicism as the exclusive religion, and restricted voting rights.
Constitution of 1869
contains 11 titles, divided into 112 articles, clearly liberal-democratic freedoms outlined a very comprehensive system compared with other European of the same period. National sovereignty is proclaimed and confirmed the universal male suffrage. It included an extensive bill of rights in which the traditional individual rights and are adding new ones guaranteed freedom of residence, education or religion and the sanctity of the mail. The monarchy form of government remained vested in the king’s executive power and the power to dissolve the Cortes: a noble concession to the power of the monarch, but it was explicit that it exercised its power p or through his ministers and that the laws were developed by the Courts and the king only sanctioned or promoted. Furthermore, not only proclaimed the independence of the judiciary, but they put the means to achieve, creating a system to judge competitions will comply with the appointment of directors, and public action against erring judges in the exercise of office.