Political Evolution and Liberalism in 19th Century Spain

3 Political Developments in 19th Century Spain

As the civil war for the succession of Ferdinand VII began, the construction of a liberal Spain was simultaneously underway.

3.1 Moderate and Progressive Liberals

Liberals divided into two distinct trends—moderate and progressive—which defined the political landscape until 1868. Both factions accepted the constitution, limited suffrage, and individual political freedoms.

• Moderate Liberals: Believed in a blend of historical tradition and the liberal ideas of the French Revolution. This group comprised doceañista liberals and those who had separated from the exalted. Their main concern was to build a unitary, safe state with centralized management. They believed power should be controlled by the propertied and educated classes, favoring censitary suffrage.
• Progressive Liberals: Found their fundamental support among the middle class, intellectuals, merchants, and craftsmen, while also attempting to attract the masses. They championed the ideas of the 1812 Constitution, national sovereignty, and legislative power held by the Cortes rather than the King. They advocated for expanded voting participation, a free-market economy, and the replacement of conscription with a professional army.

3.2 The Royal Statute

The effort to reach out to doceañista liberalism was led by Martínez de la Rosa, who enacted the Royal Statute to facilitate the transition between the Old Regime and the new status. This was a "chartered" document granted by the Crown rather than written by the Cortes. It failed to regulate the powers of the King or the government effectively and only partially addressed political and individual rights. This statute angered many liberals, as legislative initiative rested solely with the King.

3.3 Liberal Radicalization

While the Crown and privileged groups initially sustained moderate liberalism, the need to address the Carlist War and secure support forced the Queen to govern with the progressive sector and implement reforms. The Carlist War radicalized the liberal movement. In Madrid, the urban militia demanded significant reform. In August 1836, a military mutiny forced the Queen to restore the Constitution of 1812 and appoint José María de Calatrava, a veteran of the Liberal Triennium, as head of government.