The Rise of Liberalism in Spain: Isabel II’s Reign
We aim to explain why state assets were sold off in 1836 and the role of the liberal government in this process.
This action was part of a larger project to consolidate a liberal political system, an effort that had been attempted and frustrated in 1812 (Constitution of 1812) and during the Liberal Triennium (1820-1823).
The liberal system finally prevailed during the reign of Isabel II (1833-1868). However, the initial years were challenging.
The death of Fernando VII in 1833 coincided with the outbreak of the First Carlist War (1833-1839). The government of Maria Cristina faced significant difficulties in funding the war effort due to a lack of financial resources.
The Carlist War: Two Phases
Phase 1 (1833-1835)
Led by Carlist General Zumalacárregui, the Carlist forces repeatedly defeated the Elizabethan army. However, they failed to capture Bilbao, during the siege of which Zumalacárregui was killed.
Phase 2 (1835-1837)
The Carlists attempted to break their isolation in the northern regions by launching expeditions to the south, taking advantage of the revolutionary atmosphere and the critical situation on the Elizabethan side. Don Carlos, the Carlist claimant to the throne, even reached the outskirts of Madrid in 1837.
Maria Cristina’s Regency
Maria Cristina served as regent from 1833 to 1840 on behalf of her minor daughter, Isabel II. Amidst the Carlist War, she desperately sought support from the Elizabethan liberals, leading to a cautious political opening after the failure of her prime minister, Cea Bermúdez, and his reform project.
This political opening was represented by the government of the moderate liberal Martínez de la Rosa, who proposed a project of “ordered liberty” embodied in the Royal Statute of 1834. However, this initiative failed and further divided the liberals.
The rejection of the Statute, the ongoing Carlist threat, a cholera outbreak, the struggles of early industrial workers, and the rising cost of living all contributed to a radicalization of public sentiment, leading to popular uprisings and the formation of revolutionary committees demanding profound changes.
Mendizabal’s Reforms
To appease the situation and manage the unrest, the Regent appointed the progressive liberal Mendizabal as prime minister.
Mendizabal initiated a liberal revolution. His agenda included:
- Reforming the Electoral Act of 1834 to expand suffrage and introduce direct elections.
- Restoring freedom of the press and other fundamental rights.
- Reforming the financial system.
He also established conscription to bolster the war effort (allowing for early redemptions in cash) and sought funds through foreign loans (leveraging his connections with European bankers), special taxes in the provinces, and, ultimately, the seizure of church properties (desamortización).
These measures provided the state with effective tools to end the Carlist conflict. However, they also triggered strong resistance, including from the Regent herself, and caused clashes with the Vatican, which severed diplomatic relations with the Spanish State and did not recognize Queen Elizabeth until 1847.
Lacking the Regent’s confidence, Mendizabal was forced to resign.
The La Granja Mutiny
The Regent’s attempts to curtail reforms sparked protests in several cities. With the country on the verge of revolution, the Carlists advancing across the peninsula, and a government without support, on August 12, 1836, the garrison of the Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso in Segovia, where the Regent was residing, rose in favor of the Constitution of 1812 and forced her to reinstate it and recall the progressives: Calatrava and Mendizabal formed a new government.
The Triumph of the Revolution
Two key measures marked the triumph of the revolutionaries:
- The adoption of a new, progressive Constitution of 1837.
- The continuation of the desamortización process.
Meanwhile, the Elizabethan army achieved its first successes, particularly after the death of Carlist General Zumalacárregui during the siege of Bilbao and thanks to the victories of the Elizabethan General Espartero, who would eventually end the war and make peace with the Carlist General Maroto in the famous Embrace of Vergara in 1839.