Consolidation of the Liberal Regime in Spain: Key Stages

Consolidation of the Liberal Regime (1844–1868)

The Liberal Regime was consolidated and divided into three main stages:

The Moderate Decade (1844–1854)

• The Moderates, led by Narváez, controlled power. The Civil Guard was created under the Duke of Ahumada.
• Promulgation of the Constitution of 1845: Established moderate sovereignty, a confessional centralized state, and liability of powers to the courts.
• Concordat of 1851: The Church accepted confiscation, establishing a state church and allowing Church intervention in education.
• Administrative Reforms: Creation of provinces, municipalities, and reform of the tax system.

The division within the Moderate Party led to a coup led by O'Donnell (the Vicalvaro). The Queen was forced to form a government with the Progressives.

The Progressive Biennium (1854–1856)

The Progressives controlled power during this period.

• Desamortización of Madoz (1855): This completed the work of Mendizábal. Church property and municipal assets were expropriated to stabilize the treasury and raise necessary capital for railroad construction.
• 1856 Constitution (Uncreated): Although approved by the courts, it was never put into practice.
• General Railways Act (1855): The state regulated the construction of railways and granted incentives to investing companies.

General mobilization and a drop in product prices caused the Progressive government, chaired by Espartero, to fall.

Return of the Moderates and Sinking Monarchy (1856–1868)

This period was characterized by political instability.

• Moderates, led by Narváez, alternated in power with the Unionists (representatives of the Liberal Union Party) formed by O'Donnell. This involved a center game joining moderate and conservative Progressives.
• Increasingly moderate politics led to the Pact of Ostende (1866), signed by Progressives and Democrats, agreeing to end the monarchy of Isabella II and convene constituent courts with universal suffrage to decide the country's political future.
• Upon O'Donnell's death in 1867, the Unionists joined the Pact of Ostende.
• In 1868, Progressives, Unionists, and Democrats carried out a revolution known as La Gloriosa. The insurrection began with the Spanish fleet under Admiral Topete shouting in Cádiz: "¡Viva España con honra!"

The Glorious Revolution caused the downfall of Isabella II and her flight into exile in France.