Spain’s Liberal Regime: Reign of Elizabeth II (1844-1868)

Posted on Jan 15, 2025 in History

The Moderate Decade (1844-1854)

This period saw the consolidation of the liberal regime. However, the exclusion of progressives from power weakened the regime, which was overthrown in the revolution of 1868.

The Moderate Reforms and the Constitution of 1845

Reforms:

  • Creation of the Civil Guard in 1844 by the Duke of Ahumada
  • Abolition of the elective nature of mayoralties
  • Government control of the press

Constitution:

  • Replaced the principle of national sovereignty with shared sovereignty, limited the power of the courts, and increased the prerogatives of the monarch.
  • See below for features.

Concordat of 1851

Administrative Reforms

  • Public order and political control from a centralized administration
  • Preparation of the Criminal Code of 1848
  • The provincial, territorial demarcation, headed by the civil governor.

Moderate Regime Crisis

Crisis of 1848:

  • Riots by Democrats and Republicans and the Second Carlist War

Crisis of 1854:

  • Revolution of 1854, O’Donnell, and delivery of popular revolts
  • Elizabeth called Espartero to govern.

The Progressive Biennium (1854-1856)

Disentailment of Madoz

  • Disentailment of the clergy and, above all, property of the municipalities (proper and common) continued until 1924.
  • Objectives:
    • Amortizing state debt
    • Funding public works (railways)
  • Results:
    • Deprived the municipalities and farmers of arable land resources
    • Lands in the hands of the bourgeoisie

Other Reforms

  • Railway Act (1855)
  • Creation of the Bank of Spain (1856)

Crisis of 1856

The harassment of progressive governments and workers’ antagonism led to Espartero’s fall. O’Donnell staged a coup and was charged with forming a new government.

Liberal Union and the Return to Conservatism (1856-1868)

Moderate Governments (1856-1858)

  • Period of instability
  • After a brief rule of O’Donnell, the queen called on Narvaez to rule.
  • He returned to the institutions prior to 1854

The Liberal Union Government (1858-1863)

  • Stage of relative political and social stability accompanied by economic prosperity (boom of the railways).
  • Colonial adventures gave prestige to the government.
  • Republican peasant uprisings led to the fall of O’Donnell.

The End of the Reign of Elizabeth II

Causes:

  • Moderate governments did not offer solutions to social demands
  • The unpopularity of Elizabeth II and her “court of miracles.”
  • Economic crisis in 1866 – progressive pronouncements followed.
  • Pact of Ostend (1866) between progressives and Democrats to:
    • End the monarchy of Isabel II
    • Establish a liberal and democratic regime.

Conclusion

During the reign of Elizabeth II, a form of liberalism was introduced in Spain that caused instability. The Progressive and Democratic parties, seeing the difficulty they had in gaining power, did not hesitate to sign an agreement to end the monarchy of Isabel II and establish a liberal democratic regime. Thus came the 1868 revolution that saw the overthrow of the queen and the development of the democratic constitution of 1869.