The 1845 Constitution & Spain’s Moderate Governments
The Constitution of 1845
The government approved the new Constitution of 1845, reflecting conservative ideals. It established joint sovereignty between the king and the courts, expanded executive power, and decreased legislative power. Voting rights were restricted, and a non-elective Senate was instituted. City and provincial councils became subject to the central government, and the National Militia was abolished. Catholicism was declared the official state religion. While maintaining most articles of the 1837 Constitution concerning the declaration of rights, subsequent laws were restrictive. The Crown gained significant powers, including appointing ministers, dissolving courts, vetoing decisions, and appointing Senate members. A decree regulated press freedom, granting the government control. The following year, census-based electoral law restricted suffrage to major contributors and prominent figures.
The Concordat with the Holy See (1851)
Moderates sought to improve relations with the Church. The Concordat with the Vatican halted the sale of church property and returned unsold assets. In return, the Holy See recognized Isabella II. The State committed to maintaining the Spanish Church, restoring regular orders, granting the Church extensive educational powers, and recognizing Catholicism as the official religion.
Institutionalization of the Liberal State
Conservatism aimed to consolidate the liberal state under centralism, uniformity, and hierarchy. Tax reforms streamlined the system, centralized taxes, and introduced direct contributions. A Criminal Code and a draft Civil Code were adopted. Public administration was reorganized, regulating official access. Territorial administration was also reorganized, centralizing the 1833 provincial division and strengthening military and civilian governments. Municipal power was controlled, with the Crown appointing mayors in larger municipalities. A hierarchical structure was created, with each province dependent on Madrid. A decree maintained provincial councils in the Basque Country and Navarra. A national public education system was established, along with a single system of weights and measures (the metric system). The National Militia was dissolved, and the Civil Guard was created.
Crisis of the Moderate Governments
Moderate governments failed to achieve political stability, acting arbitrarily and manipulating elections. Political life centered around the court, with various factions seeking royal favor. Authoritarianism increased under Bravo Murillo’s government (1852), which proposed constitutional reforms towards a technocratic dictatorship. This failed due to opposition from within the moderates. Party decay and social discontent grew, leading to the 1854 revolution and the progressives’ return to power.
The Progressive Biennium (1854-1856)
General Leopoldo O’Donnell’s coup against the government in 1854, along with the “Manifesto of Manzanares,” led to a popular uprising. Isabella II appointed Espartero as president. The progressive government faced obstacles but achieved three things: a new constitution (1856), the civil confiscation of 1855 (nationalizing municipal assets), and the General Railways Law (1855). These reforms did not address the needs of the underprivileged, leading to social conflict and a Carlist uprising. Espartero resigned, and O’Donnell restored the moderate regime.
Crumbling of the Elizabethan Monarchy (1856-1868)
This period was unstable. O’Donnell formed the “Liberal Union” party. Internal disputes, peasant uprisings, and republican movements caused O’Donnell’s fall in 1862. The following years saw relative economic prosperity due to railway expansion, leading to overseas ventures like the Morocco campaigns, the Indochina expedition, and the Mexico expedition. Narváez’s return brought back conservative principles, increasing opposition to Isabella II. In 1866, progressives and democrats formed an alliance to overthrow the monarchy, culminating in the 1868 “Glorious” revolution.