The Regency of Maria Cristina and Espartero in Spain (1833-1843)

Reign of Elizabeth II (1833-1843): The Regency

Moderate First Period (1833-1835)

Regency of Maria Cristina (1833-1840)

Moderates in Power:

Elizabeth II began her reign under the regency of her mother, Maria Cristina, and the direction of the doceañistas, including Martinez de la Rosa. In this era, feudalism, primogeniture, and the Mesta were finally abolished. The State was organized territorially into 49 provinces, with criteria of centralism and uniformity, and a Royal Statute (1834) was promulgated. The Statute included:

• It did not pass laws but increased requests to the Queen.
• It consisted of two chambers:
  • Estate of the Founding Fathers (Upper House): This included the Grandees of Spain, who were ex officio and hereditary members, and other members from the titles of Castile.
  • Estate of Attorneys (Lower House): This was elected by indirect suffrage, based on a census.

The failure of reforms led to the division of the Liberals:

• Moderate Liberals (doceañistas): They favored order and strong authority, rejecting any measures that questioned their properties. They favored the abolition of the National Militia. They were responsible for the Constitution of 1845, the Municipalities Act of 1845, and the Electoral Act of 1846. Their social support was in the upper classes.
• Progressive Liberals: They wanted the limitation of the power of the Crown and the expansion of freedoms. They proposed economic liberalism and a reduction in tariff protection and wished to maintain the National Militia. They were in power only for brief periods (1835-1844 and 1854-1856). Their social support was in the middle classes.

The Progressives in Power (1836-1843)

This period occurred in the context of the 1st Carlist War. The disastrous economic situation in 1835 provoked riots in urban militias who were demanding the handover of power to progressive politicians. In August 1836, a declaration against the regent, the mutiny of the palace of La Granja, forced Maria Cristina to accept the reinstatement of the Constitution of 1812. Two major economic policies were implemented: the ecclesiastical confiscation of Mendizabal and the Constitution of 1837.

Mendizabal, the minister, carried out the ecclesiastical confiscation, putting forward two provisions: the nationalization of the property of religious orders and its sale. This measure reflected a double motivation: Political, to attract a critical mass of buyers to liberalism, and Economic, to capture resources for the Carlist war and recover debt.

Constitution of 1837: The principles of this constitution were:

• National Sovereignty
• Division of powers: Legislative power resided in the bicameral Cortes (Congress of Deputies and Senate), Judicial power in judges, and Executive power in the King.
• It established different individual rights and freedom of the press.
• It banned other religions.
• In 1837, a new electoral law was enacted (though electoral fraud was still common).
• Laws on freedom of commerce and industry were passed.

In September 1837, the moderates won elections and began a process of curtailing rights and freedoms. Espartero ended the 1st Carlist War and passed a law that restricted municipalities. In the summer of 1840, uprisings occurred. Maria Cristina was exiled to France, and the courts chose Espartero as regent.

The Espartero Regency (1840-1843)

Espartero ruled dictatorially until 1843. Political conflicts arose: Moderates tried to storm the royal palace, progressives were divided into esparteristas and puros, and new radical political groups of Democrats and Republicans emerged. In November 1842, there was an uprising in Barcelona. After that, a national coalition was formed against Espartero based on the recognition of Elizabeth II, the defense of constitutional legality, and the "Union of the Liberal family." In 1843, a revolt led by Narváez overthrew the government. Espartero fled and was exiled in London. In November 1843, Isabel II was declared of age.