The Regency of Isabel II (1833-1843): Spain’s Tumultuous Era
Isabel II (1833-1843): The Regency
1. Regency of Maria Cristina (1833-1840)
This period coincided with the First Carlist War. Following the death of her husband, Ferdinand VII, and with her daughter, Elizabeth (the future Isabella II), being a minor (three years old), Maria Cristina of Naples assumed the Regency. She was supported by the Liberals, despite her own absolutist leanings.
Cea Bermudez, head of government after Ferdinand VII’s death, continued a policy of enlightened reformism. His main
Read MoreThe Conservative Biennium (1933-1935) in Spain
B. The Conservative Biennium (1933-1935)
The general elections of November 1933 gave victory to the center-right parties. The new government focused its political action toward dismantling the reformist work of the previous biennium. The government was structured around two political forces: the Radical Party of Alejandro Lerroux, which shifted to more conservative positions, and CEDA, a Catholic right-wing party led by José María Gil-Robles.
Lerroux’s Government and Reform Reversal
The new government
Read MoreThe Cortes of Cadiz: Spain’s Liberal Revolution
The Other Side of the War
While much of the Spanish population fought against the French, the Cortes of Cadiz sought to implement some of the enlightened ideas of the bourgeois revolution in France.
The Appeal to the Cortes
After 100 years of Bourbon rule, the Cortes finally met in 1812. They wanted the Constitution of 1812 to bring about change. The Cortes was primarily composed of middle-class men, including members of the Church, lawyers, military officials, and professors. There were also representatives
Read MoreSpain’s 1868 Revolution & the 1869 Constitution
The Revolution of 1868 and the Constitution of 1869
La Gloriosa
“La Gloriosa” involved a popular uprising, primarily military and progressive liberals, against Queen Isabella II and the moderate government of Narváez.
Causes
- Financial Crisis (1866): Due to low profitability of investments in both public and private railways, hindering aid to other economic sectors.
- Textile Industry Crisis: Difficulty obtaining raw cotton, mainly from the USA during the Civil War, led to business closures and layoffs,
The Spanish Restoration (1875-1902): Constitution, Politics, and Alfonso XII
The 1876 Spanish Constitution
Approval and Core Principles
The 1876 Constitution served as the fundamental law of Spain, outlining the structure and limitations of its government. It defined the relationship between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, establishing a framework for governance and guaranteeing certain rights to the people. Key ideas reflected in the text include:
- Freedom of expression for all Spanish citizens.
- Recognition of Catholicism as the state religion, with restrictions
Spain’s 19th Century: From Absolutism to Liberalism
1. Introduction
- Charles IV and the Ancien Régime
- Fear of the Spread of French Revolutionary Ideas
- Godoy’s Influence: Subservience to French Interests, Presence of French Troops, and the Road to the War of Independence
- The Cortes of Cadiz and the 1812 Constitution: A Liberal Experiment During the War of Independence
- Fernando VII’s Return and the Restoration of Absolutism
2. Fear of Revolution and Alliance with Napoleonic France
2.1 Relations with Revolutionary France
- Floridablanca and Aranda: Initial Panic