Historical Liberalism: Moderates and Progressives

Political Parties: Moderates and Progressives

Liberalism had two initial, different manifestations: moderate doctrinaire liberalism, also known as conservative, and progressive liberalism. In many cases, rather than political parties, these were groups of notables still lacking a clear party infrastructure. They only organized into electoral periods, often responding to military leadership.

Doctrinaire Liberalism (Moderates)

Doctrinaire or moderate liberalism defended **dual representation**, whereby the Crown and the Cortes were the two bodies forming the basis of shared sovereignty and together constituted the legislative power. They emphasized the elitism of their political preference with a bicameral Cortes. Members of the Senate were appointed by the monarchy, and the electorate chose representatives in Congress through a small **census suffrage**, largely restricted. This centrality was reinforced by provincial and local government controlled by the Crown. Conservatism favored tradition, slow reforms, and opposed the recognition of individual and collective rights, such as freedom of speech and assembly.

These principles served a new oligarchy that included a minority of notables from the old nobility and haute bourgeoisie, mainly landowners.

The most prominent moderates were organized around three trends: ultraconservative (Donoso Cortes, Bravo Murillo), center (Narvaez, Martinez de la Rosa), and openness (General Serrano). The top leader for most of the period was General Narvaez.

Progressive Liberalism

The second model was progressive liberalism, with General Espartero as leader. They supported **national sovereignty**, whereby representation emanated solely from the Cortes, which was also bicameral but elective. Progressives defended individual rights more broadly than moderates. They supported census suffrage but differed from the moderates in their advocacy for extending the electoral body. This aspiration was in tune with the social support they received from more modernized sectors of the high industrial and financial bourgeoisie and the urban middle class.

The Democratic Party

The Democratic Party's core identity issues were the claim of **universal suffrage** and the recognition of broad individual rights, as well as some social rights like the **right to strike**.

The Liberal Union

The Liberal Union defended a project purporting to be based on consensus. It was born during the Biennium, attracting sectors from progressive conservatism and progressivism, with O'Donnell at the helm. It was characterized by the absence of a clear doctrine and political approaches in its proposals. This was often masked, at times when its members held government responsibilities, by a focus on practical politics, public works projects, and economic modernization. On numerous occasions, it resorted to military campaigns abroad to divert attention from major internal problems.