The Transition to the Liberal Regime (1833-1843)

The Reign of Elizabeth II and the Liberal Regime

This period coincided with the coming of age of the Queen, who ascended the throne at the age of three. A regency was established, exercised first by her mother (1833–1840) and later by General Espartero (1840–1843). Liberal governments conducted a total dismantling of the Ancien Régime gradually.

Transition from Absolutism to Liberalism (1833–1835)

The transition from the absolutist state of Ferdinand VII to the liberal state of Elizabeth II (1833–1835) featured the following:

• Monarchical liberal reformers and moderates: These individuals had returned from exile thanks to the amnesty granted by the government. They were in favor of combining the former state with liberal principles, removing the economic standards of the Old Regime, and making only the necessary political reforms.
• The Royal Charter (1834): The basic legal text of this phase was a Royal Charter. As a letter issued by the crown, its content consisted virtually of rules for the convocation of the Cortes. The court consisted of two chambers: the High Chamber (or Estate of Peers), appointed by the Queen in unlimited numbers.

Economic and Territorial Reforms

There were several significant reforms during this period, including:

• A territorial division into provinces.
• The liberalization of trade, industry, and transport.
• Freedom of the press and the rebirth of the National Militia.

The Rise of Mendizábal and the 1836 Uprising

Key features of this political era include:

• Juan Álvarez Mendizábal: A flagship policy figure, he served as Finance Minister and then President of the Council of Ministers (1835 to 1836). After he left the government, a military coup occurred: the uprising of the sergeants of La Granja de San Ildefonso (1836).
• The Uprising (Sublevación): This led to the consolidation of the progressives and a break with the Old Regime, which forced the Queen Regent to reinstate the 1812 Constitution.

The Constitution of 1837 and Shared Sovereignty

The Constitution of 1837 was brief and, in some ways, more moderate than the one approved in the Cortes of Cádiz. This constitution was a progressive attempt to accommodate various liberal tendencies. It acknowledged national sovereignty in theory, but it granted the Crown a much greater role than that of 1812. While maintaining the division of powers, it established a regime of shared sovereignty in practice, stating that the power to make laws in the courts rested with the King alongside the Cortes.