Elizabeth II's Reign: Conservatism and Political Turmoil in Spain

Reign of Elizabeth II

Features:

• Conservative-Leaning Liberal Monarchy: The 1845 Constitution allowed political participation for an oligarchy of landowners (agricultural, commercial, industrial, and financial bourgeoisie), professionals, and high-level officials. Authoritarian governments, defenders of order, curtailed profound changes and restricted individual freedoms.
• Queen's Trend Towards Conservatism: This trend led to popular discontent and ultimately contributed to the monarchy's downfall.
• Permanent Military Presence: The "myth of military glory" in a nation at constant war led to disrespect for parliament and the belief that the military ensured a strong government and order.
• Bourgeois Parties:
  • Until 1854, the existing parties were the Moderate and Progressive. Later emerged the Liberal Union and the illegal Republican Party.
  • Moderate Party: Supported by large landowners, gentry, nobility, high-ranking army and administration. Key policies included shared sovereignty, a powerful monarchy, a bicameral parliament with a restricted Senate, indirect taxes, economic protectionism, and Catholic-based education. This party lacked popular support.
  • Progressive Party: Supported by the financial and industrial gentry. Key principles included national sovereignty, legislative power in the courts, a strong executive accountable to the courts, a bicameral parliament, elected local power based on census suffrage, broad individual rights, and rejection of revolutionary changes. They favored legislation for commercial and industrial development, confiscation, indirect taxes, and free trade. The Progressive Party had the support of the urban middle classes.

Political Developments: The Moderate Decade

The government was controlled by Narváez, a military political conservative who repressed progressive movements and popular protest. The 1845 Constitution, lacking grassroots support, aimed to reform the 1837 Constitution but went further.

Principles: Joint sovereignty, a vague bill of rights, exclusivity of the Catholic religion, and elimination of limits on the king's power.

Institutions:

• Cortes: Bicameral, with voting based on census.
• Deputies: Elected by the people.
• Senate: Appointed by the crown.

The King could dissolve the Cortes.

Problems of the Decade

The impact of the economic crisis in Spain and the European revolutionary wave of 1848 caused protests. The crisis of Modernism from 1851 and attempted parliamentary reforms faced opposition from all groups.