Liberalism in Spain: 19th-Century Conflicts & Reforms
How Liberalism Took Hold of Spain
After Ferdinand VII’s death, a war for the throne ensued. Carlos María Isidro, Ferdinand’s brother, claimed the throne, backed by the absolutists. Isabella (Ferdinand’s daughter) was the legitimate Queen, supported by liberals on the condition that she would establish liberalism. She won, and thus, liberalism was established.
The War of Independence (1808-1814)
The war started in 1808 and ended in 1814. The reasons were:
- The Treaty of Fontainebleau
- The Mutiny of Aranjuez
- The Abdications of Bayonne
- José Bonaparte’s appointment as King of Spain
It was a war between the Afrancesados (Spanish liberals, French supporters, and part of the population) and the Ferdinos (Spanish liberals, Absolutists, Great Britain, Portugal, and supporters of absolutist despotism).
- 1808: Popular resistance in Bailén (Guerrilla warfare).
- 1808-1812: French Offensive with resistance from Russia.
- 1812-1814: Anglo-Spanish victories led by General Wellington, including the Battle of Arapiles.
The war concluded with the Treaty of Valençay.
The Cadiz Cortes
Local and provincial juntas repelled the invasion and formed a legislative government. These juntas created a Central Supreme Junta, which later became the Cortes of Cadiz. This body created a constitution in 1812 with the following features:
- National Sovereignty
- Liberal progressive ideology
- Separation of powers (executive led by the King and ministers)
- Legislative universal male indirect suffrage
- Rights: press freedom, property rights, inviolability of the home, equality before the law
- Confessional state (Catholicism)
The Regency of María Cristina (1833-1840)
Isabella II became Queen, but as she was only three years old, her mother, María Cristina, became regent. The first government was very conservative, but the Carlist Wars (1833-1840) forced the regent to embrace liberalism. Initially, Maria Cristina supported minor reforms. She appointed Juan Álvarez Mendizabal as president, who:
- Abolished the Ancient Regime
- Implemented fiscal reforms
- Dissolved manorialism
- Initiated a disentailment of property and confiscation of Church property
- Abolished the Mesta and guilds
These changes led to military uprisings, popular revolts, and the Mutiny of La Granja in 1836, along with liberal uprisings and complaints from the Church. María Cristina replaced Mendizabal with Calatrava (1836-1837), who drafted the Constitution of 1837, establishing:
- National sovereignty
- Census suffrage
- Separation of powers
- Two chambers (Congress and Senate)
- Numerous rights and industrial liberties
The Regency of Espartero (1840-1843)
Numerous revolts led to María Cristina’s resignation. General Espartero was appointed regent. His military background resulted in an authoritarian rule. Free trade policies created conflicts. The textile industry of Barcelona revolted, but Espartero suppressed it violently. Conservative liberals capitalized on the situation, forcing Espartero’s exile. They then accelerated Isabella II’s coming of age, leading to the reign of moderate liberals.
The Moderate Decade (1843-1854)
Moderate liberals took control, appointing Narvaez as president. They established the Constitution of 1845, a moderate liberal document. Suffrage was highly restricted, and sovereignty was shared between the Cortes and the Crown. The State and municipal administration were reorganized, and the Basque Country (País Vasco) and Navarra received statutory laws.
Reforms included a penal code, a national education system, a concordat with the Holy See, and the establishment of the Guardia Civil. Problems included the influence of Camarillas (royal advisors) and electoral fraud.