Liberalism in 19th Century Spain: Moderate vs. Progressive Parties
Liberalism in Spain (1834-1844)
This historiographical fragment is from a historical essay, The Liberal Revolution and the First Political Parties in Spain: 1834-1844, written in 1980 by Carlos Marichal.
The document’s main purpose is to inform about the political situation in Spain at the time, summarizing the distribution of powers between municipalities and the central government, and the social bases of the two mainstream liberal parties: the Moderate Party and the Progressive Party.
The intended audience is the general public, for informative or educational purposes.
Historical Context
After a period of intermittent power struggles between absolutists and liberals, a truce was reached upon the death of Fernando VII (1833), who had exercised absolute power. To ensure his daughter Isabel could rule, Fernando VII abolished the Salic Law. However, his brother Carlos refused to accept this, claiming his right to the throne. This led to Carlos being proclaimed King of Spain and the start of the First Carlist War (1833-1840), pitting him against Maria Cristina, Isabel’s mother and regent. Carlos V was supported by the absolutists, while Maria Cristina sought support from the liberals.
The initial Liberal government proposed limited reforms, leading to the rise of a more revolutionary figure: Mendizabal. Following the approval of the 1837 Constitution, elections were won by the Moderates. From that year onward, there was an alternation of power. This prompted an insurrection, leading to Maria Cristina’s replacement by Espartero. The Convention of Vergara maintained privileges in certain Basque provinces and Navarra.
The Two Main Political Parties
The text is divided into two parts. The first part discusses the Regency of Maria Cristina and the two main political parties, emphasizing that they cannot be compared to modern parties. The second part examines the operations of each party, the objectives of central and municipal governments, and the social support base of each party.
The Moderate Party
The Moderates defended doctrinal liberalism and were a conservative group formed by landowners and gentry. Their ideals included:
- A very restricted census-based suffrage
- Shared sovereignty between the Cortes and the King
- Limited individual rights
- Economic protectionism
- A confessional state
Key figures included Martinez de la Rosa and Narvaez.
The Progressive Party
The Progressives advocated a more radical liberalism, emphasizing national sovereignty with a census-based voting system and assigning the Crown a role as a political arbiter. They defended individual freedoms and sought to eliminate barriers to class mobility. They proposed a centralized state with municipal autonomy. Key figures included Espartero, Mendizabal, and Madoz.
Key Differences and Social Support
These political parties differed significantly from modern parties. Individuals were bound by personal relations or economic interests, sharing similar views that linked them to participating in elections and gaining power. The confrontation between the two parties centered on control of Parliament and the municipalities, reflecting their respective interests.
The Progressive Party had significant support among officials, the military, the petty bourgeoisie, and the “liberal professions.” The Moderate Party was supported by the upper classes, including the gentry, aristocrats, and generals, who opposed more advanced reforms due to adverse political and economic interests.
Political Instability
These policy changes led to political instability in the late 1830s, marked by the end of the First Carlist War and the conflict between the two liberal parties, characterized by military interventions and their significant presence in political affairs.