Spain’s Progressive Biennium & Unionist Government (1854-1868)
The Progressive Biennium (1854-1856)
The elections were called under the laws of 1837, which allowed a progressive majority and the first appearance in Parliament by some House Democrats. The new government tried to restore the principles of progressivism. It also prepared a new constitution (1856), which failed to be enacted, and in 1854 drafted a progressive Councils Act in which mayors were elected by sufragio (suffrage). The most important action of the progressive government was the resumption of the work of disentailment. The new law of confiscations of 1855, by Minister Madoz, affected the State property of the Church, charities, and especially municipalities (own and communal property). Just as in 1837, it was intended to raise resources for the farm. A good part of the proceeds were invested in the construction of ferrocarriles (railways).
The network of railway lines began in 1855 with the General Railway Law, which regulated its implementation and provided ample incentives to companies to intervene in it. This especially benefited foreign capital, which came in abundance to the Spanish market. The reform measures of the biennium did not remedy the subsistence crisis, which mobilized the people in the riots of 1854, generating a climate of serious social unrest. Labor strikes occurred in 1855, and rising campesino (peasant) unrest ended the government. The Labour Act, which introduced some improvements and allowed workers’ associations, was introduced. Queen Espartero resigned and entrusted the government to O’Donnell, who harshly repressed the protests.
The Unionist Government (1856-1863)
The new government led by O’Donnell tried a Unionist political balance by combining the key elements of the moderate and progressive proposals. In this way, relative stability in domestic politics was achieved. Although the elections were rigged from the Ministry of the Interior, a minority opposition was also fixed in Congress to avoid marginalization that would drive them to insurrectional practices. One of the most significant actions of the government was an active foreign policy that sought to recover international prestige, unite the different parties in a patriotic fervor, and appease large sections of the army.
Thus, three international campaigns were conducted:
- The expedition to Indochina in 1858.
- Intervention in Mexico in 1862.
- The military campaigns in Morocco (1859-1860), where General Prim gained progressive military prestige.
These campaigns allowed Spain to incorporate the territory of Ifni and expand Ceuta. But in 1863, the internal breakdown of the coalition government showed, and O’Donnell resigned. The Queen handed over power to the moderados (moderates).
The Return of Moderantismo and the 1868 Revolution
The years between 1863 and 1868 accounted for Narváez’s return to power and the restoration of the ancient principles of moderantismo (conservatism). The authoritarian form of government was again imposed, regardless of Parliament and all political groups. Thus, the progressives went back to insurgency with the support of Democrats, whose influence among the popular classes was increasing. In 1866, the revolt of the sergeants of the Headquarters of San Gil took place, which had the support of progressives and Democrats and brought about a popular uprising in Madrid. The government’s position was worsened by the subsistence crisis that began in 1866. Since that time, large sectors of society agreed on the need to promote a decision that would give a radical change in the situation, which resulted in the expulsion from the Spanish throne of Isabella II in 1868.