The Reign of Isabella II (1844-1868)
The Moderate Decade (1844-1854)
Configuration of the Moderate Regime
A new government headed by General Narváez pursued a policy based on moderate liberalism. The first moderate governments carried out strong repression against progressives. The regime was settled on the prevalence of the landowning bourgeoisie.
Constitution of 1845
The Constitution of 1845 picked up the basic ideas of conservatism. It retained the declaration of rights but was very restrictive of freedoms. It also gave enormous attributes to the Crown. An 1845 decree regulating freedom meant government control over the press. The 1846 Electoral Act posed a very restricted census suffrage.
Concordat with the Holy See
The moderates also tried to improve relations with the Church. They signed a concordat with the Holy See, suspending the sale of church property and returning unsold disentailed properties. The Holy See recognized Isabella II and accepted the disentailment work, while the state committed to supporting the Spanish Church.
Institutionalization of the Liberal State
A new liberal state arose under the principles of centralism, uniformity, and hierarchy. The government undertook fiscal reform to increase public treasury revenues. The Penal Code was adopted in 1848, and a Civil Code was drafted. Public administration was reformed, state offices were reorganized, and a law regulating access for officials was created. The Local Administration Act stipulated that mayors would be appointed by the Crown, and the civil governor would appoint mayors of smaller municipalities. A national system of public instruction was established, regulating the various levels of education and developing the curriculum. This legislation is known as the Moyano Law. The metric system was also adopted, and the Civil Guard was created in 1844.
Crisis of the Moderate Government
Moderate government policies failed to bring stability. Authoritarianism became acute during the rule of Bravo Murillo (1852), with the state becoming a technocratic dictatorship, the disappearance of the parliamentary regime, and a return to a system similar to the Royal Statute. A new revolution in 1854 allowed the progressives to return to power, ending ten years of moderate government.
The Progressive Biennium (1854-1856)
The Revolt of 1854 and the New Progressive Government
The Pronunciamiento of Vicálvaro, headed by General O’Donnell, represented moderate discontent. O’Donnell founded a new party, the Liberal Union, intending to cover a center area from moderates to progressives. Espartero returned to the premiership, and O’Donnell was appointed Minister of War. The new government restored the principles of progressivism and immediately reinstated the Militia and Municipal Acts. An ambitious economic reform plan was implemented in the best interests of the urban bourgeoisie and middle classes.
Economic Legislation
The new Disentailment Law of 1855, by Minister Madoz, applied to the assets of the State, Church, military orders, etc. (common property and equity). Seeking resources to finance and promote Spain’s economic modernization, revenues were invested in the railway network through the Railway Act.
Crisis of the Progressive Biennium
In Catalonia, the poor economic situation led to workers’ strikes in 1855. Social unrest also led to a major peasant uprising in Castilian lands and popular riots in many cities, with attacks and burning of farms and factories. The Labor Law introduced some improvements and allowed worker associations, but a serious social conflict was growing. Discrepancies arose within the coalition government between more moderate and more radical progressives.
Decomposition of the Isabelline System (1856-1868)
Unionist Governments (1856-1863)
Led by O’Donnell, the Unionist governments attempted political balance by combining a moderate approach with some progressive proposals. They achieved relatively stable internal politics and tried to revitalize the parliamentary system, but always under state control, also allowing for a minority opposition in Congress. One of their most outstanding actions was an active foreign policy that sought to recover Spain’s international prestige. Three campaigns marked this period: the Indochina expedition (1858-1863), the intervention in Mexico (1862), and the Moroccan military campaigns (1859-1860).
Moderate Governments (1863-1868)
Narváez’s return meant the reinstatement of the old principles of moderatism. The authoritarian form of government outside the courts gained momentum again, and strong repression was exercised on opponents. In 1866, the Revolt of the Sergeants of San Gil took place, supported by progressives and democrats, leading to a popular uprising in Madrid. The government’s situation worsened due to the food crisis that began in 1866, causing price increases and popular discontent.