Spanish Liberal Agrarian Reform and Disentailment

The process of disentailment (Desamortización) was a significant liberal agrarian reform in Spain. Following the French model, church property was nationalized and subsequently sold at public auctions to generate public income. These sanitation measures were established through public finance laws.

The Three Stages of Disentailment

First Stage: Godoy and the Early 19th Century

The first stage began under Godoy in 1798, affecting church property to benefit the Royal Treasury (Hacienda). Later, in 1809, Joseph Bonaparte targeted the properties of the regular clergy and aristocrats. The Courts of Cádiz approved decrees that favored the upper and middle classes during the Liberal Triennium. During this time, public debt was managed through vales reales (state-purchase shares). While these were beneficial for those looking to purchase land, they were detrimental to those who only paid rent.

Second Stage: Mendizábal and the Regency of Espartero

The second stage (1836–1837) began with the Progressive Minister Mendizábal. This period coincided with the regency of Maria Christina and later General Espartero. Espartero implemented a free trade agreement involving internal and external economic policies, governed by the law of supply and demand and the removal of customs barriers.

Mendizábal’s confiscations were divided into two categories:

• Ecclesiastical: This involved the genuine nationalization of property previously held by the regular and secular clergy. The primary goals were to lower public debt, fund the army for the Carlist War, increase the number of property owners, and consolidate liberalism under Isabella II. The process involved public auctions where 20% was paid in cash and the remaining 80% over 16 years at 5% interest (or 8 years at 10% if paid with public debt stock).
• Civil: This included the Nobiliaria (decoupling of primogeniture), which released linked estates rather than direct confiscation, and the disentailment of municipal lands.

Third Stage: The Madoz Law and the Progressive Biennium

The third stage occurred in 1855 with the Madoz Law during the Progressive Biennium. This period was marked by a crisis between the Senate and the government, leading to the Vicalvarada pronouncement led by O'Donnell. The Manzanares Manifesto called for liberal regeneration, tax reductions, and the restoration of the National Militia. Although a new constitution was proclaimed in 1856, it was never enacted because O'Donnell dissolved the Progressive Biennium.

Madoz’s disentailment focused on municipal goods, including both propios (private municipal property) and comunes (common lands). The objectives were to reduce national debt and increase the number of owners through public auctions of small lots.

Impact and Consequences of Disentailment

The impact of these confiscations was far-reaching:

• Economic: It reduced public debt and provided the necessary funds for the army during wartime.
• Social: It was not a true land reform for the peasantry. Instead, it led to an increase in ownership concentration.
• Regional Differences: In the South, latifundismo (large estates) was consolidated and increased. In the North, small and medium-sized properties were established.
• Industrial Delay: While it benefited the gentry and nobility and increased agricultural production, it ultimately contributed to the delay of the industrial revolution in Spain.