Spain’s Moderate Decade (1844-1854) and Biennium (1854-1856)
The Moderate Decade (1844-1854)
The moderate decade, spanning from 1844 to 1854, began with the resignation of Joaquin Maria Lopez’s government on the same day as the commencement of Elizabeth II’s reign. Salustiano Olózaga, a progressive party chief, was appointed as a substitute but was dismissed after nine days due to accusations of forcing the young queen to dissolve the courts.
The moderate party, under General Narvaez’s leadership, then dominated the political scene for the next ten years, giving the period its name. During this time, the 1845 Constitution was developed, proclaiming shared sovereignty and annulling some achievements of progressive liberalism. Restrictive organic laws laid the foundations for soft power and the political and administrative organization of the liberal state.
Key reforms included:
- The new provincial division of Javier de Burgos.
- Centralized management.
- The creation of the Civil Guard to ensure public safety and monitor the rural environment.
- Financial reform, introducing a new tax system aimed at enhancing direct contributions through direct and indirect taxes.
The 1851 Concordat with the Holy See achieved recognition of the Elizabethan monarchy, with the Church accepting the confiscation carried out until then in return for financial compensation. The royal marriage was a controversial issue, leading to lengthy diplomatic negotiations.
The moderate government was strictly exclusivist, forcing progressives, marginalized from power, to resort to pronouncements. The decade concluded with the technocratic government of Juan Bravo Murillo, who undertook extensive administrative and financial work.
The Biennium (1854-1856)
Government corruption and the Cabal, coupled with the progressive dissatisfaction of being excluded from power, fueled criticism of the political class and encouraged revolutionary action. In June 1854, General O’Donnell and Dulce initiated a movement. Initially, the Vicalvarada had limited objectives: redressing corruption and changing the government without abandoning conservatism.
However, progressive intervention triggered a popular uprising, leading the rebels to expand their program. The Manifesto of Manzanares (1854), written by Cánovas del Castillo and signed by O’Donnell, called for policy reforms and constituent assemblies, inaugurating a progressive stage. Queen Espartero entrusted power to O’Donnell, representing the coalition that spurred the revolution.
Drafting a new constitution with explicitly progressive national sovereignty (the non-promulgated 1856 Constitution) and enacting important economic laws were fundamental to the development of Spanish capitalism. Key measures included:
- The Railways Act (1855), enabling the introduction of this mode of transport.
- Banking laws and societies promoting economic development.
- The return of confiscation through the enactment of the Madoz Law in 1855, affecting civil and ecclesiastical property.
The Minister of Finance, Pascual Madoz, exploited the progressive biennium by promulgating the general law of dismemberment on May 1, 1855, offering collectively owned or amortized goods for sale. The sale impacted 20% of the total Spanish land.