The Reign of Isabella II (1833–1868): Formation of the Spanish Liberal State

Isabella II: The Liberal State Begins (1833–1843)

The building of the liberal state began in Spain when Isabella II was a child (1833–1843).

The Regency of Maria Christina (1833–1840)

Maria Christina supported the Moderate Liberals, but a series of military uprisings and popular revolts forced her to hand power over to the Progressive Liberals.

Mendizábal, the leader of the Progressive Liberals, began the abolishment of the Ancien Régime by introducing fiscal reform. A new Progressive Constitution was drafted in 1837. Key features included:

• National sovereignty with census suffrage.
• The separation of powers and the establishment of two chambers.
• The granting of many rights and individual liberties.

The Regency of Espartero (1840–1843)

In 1837, Moderate Liberals, with increasingly conservative policies, took control of the government. Maria Christina was forced out, and the Progressive General Espartero was appointed regent.

Espartero's authoritarian ideas and his introduction of free trade created strong opposition. Consequently, Isabella II was proclaimed queen early.

The Moderate Decade (1843–1854)

During almost the entire reign of Isabella II as an adult, Spain's Moderate Liberal Party, led by General Narváez, remained in power. The new Cortes adopted a Moderate Constitution in 1845, in which:

• Suffrage was highly restricted.
• Civil liberties were limited.
• Sovereignty was shared between the Cortes and the Crown.

The Moderate Liberals also adopted measures to centralize taxes, create a penal code, and develop a national education system. In 1851, the State signed the Concordat with the Holy See. In 1844, the Guardia Civil was set up to maintain law in the countryside.

The authoritarian tendencies of political leaders like Narváez and Bravo Murillo, the influence of political cliques, and electoral fraud caused another Progressive military revolt.

The Progressive Biennium (1854–1856)

In 1854, the Vicalvaro Pronunciamiento led by General O'Donnell brought the Progressive Liberals to power. The National Militia fought in the Vicalvarada.

The Cortes drafted a new constitution which was not approved, and the government made major economic reforms concerning three fundamental laws:

• The Confiscations of Madoz (1855).
• The General Railway Law.
• The Mining Act.

The System in Decline (1856–1868)

A new crisis in Espartero's government caused Isabella II to hand the government over to O'Donnell, who had created a new centralist party called the Liberal Union.

From 1856 onward, Unionists and Moderates alternated in power. The government became very authoritarian, often acting without the authorization of the Cortes and repressing opposition.

Opposition groups grew stronger, including the Democrats, who defended universal male suffrage, and the Republicans, who aspired to end the monarchy and establish a republic.