Moderate Power (1843)
- 1843: Proclamation of Isabel II as constitutional queen.
- Initiated the Moderate period.
- General Narváez, head of government, established new bases for the moderate state.
- Scheme based on the dominance of the landowning bourgeoisie.
Constitution of 1845
- Sovereignty shared by King and Parliament.
- Liberal-conservative character.
- No strict separation of powers.
- Reform of the 1837 Constitution.
- Lasted 23 years.
- Bicameral Cortes (Congress, Senate).
- Restricted suffrage.
- Senate appointed by the queen.
- Catholic confessionality of the state.
Liberal State Structure
- Based on principles of centralism and uniformity.
- Penal Code approved.
- Administration reorganized.
- Mayors in towns over 2000 inhabitants named by the Crown.
- Foral rights maintained for the Basque Country and Navarre due to fear of Carlist uprising.
Alternatives and Opposition
- Powers granted to the Crown and executive power made the Cortes irrelevant.
- Carlist Uprising (1848-1849): "War of the Early Risers," Second Carlist War (mainly in Catalonia).
- Democratic opposition to the moderates.
- 1854: Government's attitude towards reforming the Constitution for more executive power led to uprisings (involving some moderates and progressives).
- General O'Donnell at the head of the Vicalvaro Pronouncement.
- Drafted the Manifesto of Manzanares.
- Isabel named Espartero and O'Donnell to form the government, with O'Donnell as Minister of War.
The Progressive Biennium (1854-1856)
- During these 2 years, the aim was to restore the constitutional principles of 1837.
- Constitution of 1856 drafted but not enacted.
- Most Important Actions:
- Madoz Disentailment Law affected assets of the State, Church, military orders, and city councils.
- Aimed to obtain resources to finance public works and railways.
- The biennium did not improve living conditions.
- This generated a peak of conflict.
- 1856: An uprising occurred, Espartero resigned, and the queen entrusted the government to O'Donnell.
Crisis of Moderantismo (1856-1868)
- O'Donnell restored Moderantismo.
- 1858-1863: The Crown relied on the Liberal Union government (O'Donnell and Narváez).
- This period saw instability dominated by conservative politics.
- The Constitution of 1845 was reinstated, and the progressive legislation of the biennium was annulled.
- Unionist action led foreign policy to divert attention from internal military problems and satisfy external powers.
- 1863: Unable to cope with the opposition, O'Donnell and the Unionists resigned and returned power to the moderates.
- 1863-1868: Moderantismo ruled in an authoritarian fashion, outside Parliament, and exercising strong repression.
