Political Liberalism and Power Dynamics in 19th Century Spain

Articulation of Liberalism in 19th Century Spain

Moderate and Progressive Political Parties

The two major political parties during the reign of Isabel II were the Moderates and the Progressives. Both represented liberalism and were expressions of the defense of a constitutional monarchy system.

• Moderates: A group composed of landowners, merchants, and intellectuals with conservative leanings. They utilized census suffrage to prevent the masses from accessing politics, defended the principle of shared sovereignty between the Cortes and the Crown, favored limiting individual rights (such as freedom of the press, assembly, and association), and defended the Catholic Church.
• Progressives: Dominated by the liberal bourgeoisie and the financial industry, they possessed a reformist spirit. They defended the principle of unlimited national sovereignty and the dominance of the Cortes in the political system. While they rejected the power of the Crown and defended individual and collective rights, they maintained census suffrage, though they favored expanding the electorate.

A division within the liberals led to the formation of the Democratic Party, which marked the first political expression of democratic thought in Spain. Democrats defended universal suffrage, the broadening of public liberties, education, welfare, and the right to equality.

The Weight of the Army

The Carlist Wars caused the army to become the only guarantee for the survival of Isabel II's throne. A defining characteristic of the Spanish army was its constant presence in political life. Party leaders were often senior military officers, such as Prim, Espartero, Narváez, and O'Donnell. Consequently, the army acted as the executive arm of political conspiracies.

Juntas and Militias

The role of the Crown, combined with the powers granted by the Constitution, the use of the army, and the restriction of voting rights, marginalized the majority of the citizenry from parliamentary politics. This led to the rise of juntas and military involvement.

• Juntas: These emerged during moments of crisis in the monarchy when moderate governments failed to meet expectations.
• Militias: These served as an alternative to the regular army, involving liberal sectors and citizens in the fight for the implantation of liberalism. In the militia, all were equal, and authority depended on the city's mayor. This force was used to mobilize liberals and popular sectors to pressure the Crown into granting them power.