liberalism and reaction in spain.docx

7/30/2019 LIBERALISM AND REACTION IN SPAIN.docx

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LIBERALISM AND REACTION IN SPAIN. 1833 1875.

1. INTRODUCTION

The years that followed the death of Ferdinand VII in 1833 was marked by rapid

demographic expansion, significant economic growth and social change. In the politicalsphere was a centralized state.

However, a new oligarchy ruled the country. That oligarchy was determined to resistany attempt to introduce political or social reforms which might undermine (socavar, daar)its privileged position.

THE REIGN OF ISABELLA II 1833 - 1868

She came to the throne as an infant, but her succession was disputed by the Carlists,who refused to recognize a female sovereign, leading to the Carlist Wars. After a

troubled reign, she was deposed in the Glorious Revolution of 1868. Her son AlfonsoXII became king in 1874. She faced many problems referring political and economicalissues.

2. THE REGENCY OF MARA CRISTINA 1833 1840.(She acted as regent until Isabella came of age in 1843)

2.1. First Carlist War 1833 1840

Causes

Fernando revokedthe Salic Law to make Isabella his heir. Therefore, Carlos (brotherof Ferdinand VII) didnt stand anymore first in the line of succession. Then, rather thanaccept the infant Isabella II as legitimate queen, Carlos and his supporters launched acivil warknown as Carlist War. However it was far from being simply a conflict overdynastic rights. It was a continuation of the ideological struggle that had been sincethe Peninsular War:

a) Carlists. They wanted the restoration of the powers and priviliges of thetraditional order. Carlos Bourbon was largely supported in the conservative,ultra Catholic regions of rural northern Spain (Navarre and BasqueCountry). They protested against social and economic change. They enjoyed

fervent support among the clergy.

b) Liberals. They were committed to the political, social, and economicmodernization of the country. Mara Cristina had no choice but to embrancethe agenda of liberals (remember: M. Cristina ruled as regent at that timebecause Isabella II only had 3 years!)

SALIC LAW revoked by FVII (Carlos VI) Isabella II

Traditionalists

Clergy

Basque c.

Navarre

Liberals

Modernization

No choice


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Stages

During the first two years, carlists under the generalship of Zumalacarreguiwere able to stretch from Basque country to Valencia. They usedsuccessfully the tactics of guerrilla.

After the carlist failure of the ambitious Royal Expedition of 1837 whichthey reached the outskirts of Madrid, the liberals gained the upper handthanks to the money and equipment supplied by France and England.

Carlist War was fought with brutality on both sides. In order to win this war,Maria Cristina entered into alliance with Britain, France and Portugal. Thisalliance was crucial to ensure the liberal victory.

The Convention of Vergara ended the conflict, negotiated by the liberalgeneral Espartero, and the carlist general, Rafael Maroto. Thanks to this deal,Carlists were re-incorporated into the national army, and Basque and Navarrepriviliges (fueros) were respected.

However, the Carlist cause would break out again in 1846 and 1847.


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2.2. Political parties

The turbulent period of Isabel II would be defined by the alternation in powerof thesetwo groups in the context of a liberal, constitutional monarchy.

Both of them were LIBERALS, and they defended Isabella IIagainst carlists. Also theyrejected revolutionary changes made by workers. They were bourgeoisie parties.Therefore they excluded the vast majority of the population from policy.

MODERATES PROGRESSIVESThey were the oligarchs of liberalism asthe defenders of order against theexcesses of the Progressives

His duty was to save Spain fromdespotism by force. Sometimes thistake the form of * pronunciamiento

They were in favour of the jointsovereignty of the king and Cortes.

The constitution should represent thesovereignty of the nation.

They were determined to destroy thethe National Militia, (they dont have toobey tailors, butchers and barbers inuniform).

They created the National Militia, theprivate army of radical town councils.

They believed in a centralized state.Local governments should be appointedby the queen / king

They were in favour of localgovernments, and they should beelected by suffrage

They were supported by France, andMaria Cristina

They were supported by England

They preferred restraining trade(protectionists) by using tariffs, quotas,taxes

They were in favour of free market,inspired by Adam Smith

Narvez was their sword - arm.Politicians: Martnez de la Rosa.

Espartero was their sword- arm.Mendizbal was an important politician.

Oligarchy of landowners, formeraristocracy, and commercialbourgueoise

Middle urban class: civil servants,lawyers, doctors, army officersIndustrial bourgueoise

Censitary suffrage More people should vote

The fatal weakness of both parties was an infinite capacity to establish stablegovernments.

Pronunciamiento (declaration): Officers seek to win support from the lower ranks and also from political

factions by reading out a statement of their grievances. Theoretically, it doesnt place the power in handsof military, but rather to provide public support. To sum up, it was a change of government imposed by themilitary.

2.3. Moderates rule: the Royal Statute. 1833 1835

The Royal Statute was a limited exercise in democratic constitutional reform. Themore radical provisions of the Constitutions were repealed. The monarchycould hire and fire ministers at will. Also the queen could dissolve Cortes whenevershe wanted. It established a bicameral Cortes with an upper chamber containingthe grandees, bishops among others. Members of the lower chamber were elected

by indirect suffrage. It was redacted by the moderate Martinez de la Rosa.


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These timid reforms came as disappointment for the Progressives. Thus, in thesummer of 1835, a wave of radical revolts broke out in some cities, many friarswere killed because there was rumor that they poisoned water, and many conventswere fired. Also, the press was in favour of progressives. As a result, the regentMaria Cristina annulled the Royal Statute and appointed the progressive

Mendizbal as chief Minister.

2.4. The tension was increasing

Ecclesiastical confiscations of Mendizbal (progressive)

One of Mendizbals first actions was to close monasteries and convents, and thesale of ecclesiastical landed property. This allowed the government to defray(costear) the Carlist war. Keep in mind that there was an anticlerical atmosphere.Finally, wealthy noble and other families took advantage of the legislation toincrease their holdings.

The impossibility of ending the Carlist revolts forced Mendizbal's resignation in1836. A few months later a revolt in La Granja made the Queen accept a radicalgovernment and the restoration of the Spanish Constitution of 1812. This led to apolitical crisis that came to an end (apparently) with the Constitution of 1837.

Constitution of 1837

This constitution was based on liberal political principles. This constitution permitted tovote more people, but only 2% of the population could vote.

The resulting constitution was roughly intermediate between the Cdiz Constitutionand the Royal Statute of 1834. Progressives influence: national sovereignty.Moderates influence: bicameral system.

However, Mara Cristina gave her support over and over again to the Moderates,breaking a theoretically equilibrium.

The end of the regency of Mara Cristina

Mara Crsitina passed the decree of Ayuntamientos, which didnt allowed mayors tobe elected by people (remember; only 2% could vote). This measure dislike deeply to


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the Progressives. They forced the queen to shift toward the left in order to broadenindividual freedoms, and they instituted this change by means of an army proclamationin 1840. General Espartero issued the proclamation that replaced the queenmother as regent. He acted as a civilian rather than an army officer.

3. THE REGENCY OF ESPARTERO 1840 1843 (Isabella is still minor of age)Espartero used his authority to promote a program of modernization that tried toembrace the high and the middle bourgeoisie. At the same time he promoted freetrade and civil liberties. The suffrage was increased further.

But Esparteros program alienated both right and left of the political spectrum, there

was no unity at all. Landowners, bankers, and industrialists opposed free trade.

At the end of 1842, when industrialists and workers in Barcelona joined forces toprotest against free trade, Espartero ordered the city bombed and shut down the

Cortes.Narvaz, a Moderate army leader, issued his proclamation outside Madrid. GeneralEspartero left Spain for exile in England.

Espartero.

4. THE MODERATE DECADE 1844 - 1854.( ISABELLA OFFICIALLY CAME OFAGE (13 years old)

The restoration of the Moderates excluded the Progressives from power. The mainobjectives of the Moderates were to ensure the political and social stability. There

were some conservative measures:

The constitution of 1845 : The senate was replaced by an assembly ofnotables, and the Crown even more reinforced.

Narvez cut the suffrage dramatically to just over 97, 000 National Militia was dissolved

There were restrictions on freedom of speech

He signed the Concordat of 1851. The Vatican accepted the sale of Church landsin return for state recognition of Catholicism as the sole religion of the nation, andalso confirms the Churchs key role as educators.


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He also created a more centralized state:

There was a uniform system oftaxation He reformed the National Bank Universities and schools were under his control

He adopted thepeseta as the national currency He created the Civil Guard, a paramilitary force to maintain order in the

countryside.

The Spanish economy slowly modernized and industrialized. However, Narvezfaced strong opposition:

The radical Progressives The Carlists, who rose rebellion in Catalonia 1846 1849 ( Second carlists

war) The Democratic Party, which claimed for legalization of workers

association. Some wanted the overthrow of the Bourbon dynasty. Also there were factions inside Moderate party.

Finally, Narvez was forced from office in 1851. He was succeeded by BravoMurillo, a neo absolutist who reduced the electorate to 25, 000. He wasconsidered even inside the Moderate party as a threat. He was forced from office.

La Vicalvarada

In 1854 a group ofprogressive army officers issued a proclamation demandingbetter government, less corruption and more efficiency. General O Donnell joined

with older Progressives, including their old hero Espartero, who had returned fromEngland, to prepare a new Constitution.

The queens reputation

Queen Isabella saved her position by agreeing to invite Espartero and theProgressives to take up the government. She had a scandalous romantic life.Isabella II never seemed to understand the difference between her personalwishes and her duties as constitutional monarch. Vain, capricious, and foolishshe was a disaster for Spain in the days when monarchs held real power.

Narvez


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5. THE PROGRESSIVE BIENNIUM 1854 1856

Esparteros government

Once in office, Espartero took the following measures:

He restored many civil liberties Elected town councils were restored National Militia was resuscitated The Law of General Disentailment introduced by Pascual Madoz (1855).

This provided the sale of municipal common lands. However, it was the poorwho lost out.

Company and mining laws. This provided the legal structure for theexpansion which lasted until 1866: railways, roads, banksHe speed up the

industrialization. The constitution of 1856never came into effect

BUT there were a series of facts that led to the Esparteros fall:

The rising of food price

Democrats and some Progressives demanded more social and politicalreforms

Epidemic disease

Workers in Barcelona claimed for their rights to organize unions

In July 1856, a new pronunciamiento by general Leopoldo ODonnell forcedEspartero from power and brought an end to the Progressive regime.

6. THE MODERATES AND THE LIBERAL UNION 1856 1868

O Donnell founded a broad political grouping called the Liberal Union in 1858. Hisvague ideology tried to appeal to Moderates and Progressives alike. He aimed acoalition of the most moderate of the Progressives and the most progressive of the

Moderates.

ODonnell extended the suffrage and the press freedom (keep in mind that theConstitution of 1845 was still in force). Liberal Union sold more municipal landsand increased taxes. Someway ODonnell achieved efficiency in government. To

modernize society, the Law of Public Instruction (1857) established governmentcontrol of all schools, private and public, but Catholic doctrine was still the basis ofeducation.

Foreign policy

During most of the 19th century, Spanish foreign policy remained defensive.

However, ODonnell committed Spain to a large number of military adventuresoverseas in orderto foster national unity:


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Spanish forces assisted the French conquest ofIndochina Spain occupied Santo Domingo Spain was also involved in the War of the Pacific in order to access to the

nitrate rich deposite of the Peruvian coast. Spain captured Tetun (Morocco) that led to a public ecstasy of patriotic

sentiment ( read Benito Prez Galds, Los Episodios Nacionales: ODonnell).

O Donnell faced increasing opposition from radical Progressives and the

conservative right alike. O Donnell was forced to resign. Moreover, the QueenIsabella appointed a series of ultra conservative governments to office. Shefailed again to play the role of a constitutional monarch and it was a politicalsuicide.

7. SIX REVOLUTIONARY YEARS 1868 - 1874

7.1 The Glorious Revolution, 1868

General Prim (hero of Tetun) succeeded Espartero as sword arm of theProgressives. Also, Narvez, main supporter of the queen died in 1868.

The revolution of September 1868 was a pronunciamiento of those politicians andgenerals denied office by Isabella II, they were Liberal Unionists (Serrano) and PrimsProgressives (Prim, Sagasta). In addition, Democrats (Rivero, Castelar) joined them.

(known this alliance as Treaty of Ostende) Isabella herself went into exile, and aprovisional government of the coalition was installed (ruled by Prim and Serrano).They began looking for a replacement as monarch. There were also politicians in favorof creating a republic.

Liberal Unionits Progressives DemocratsSerrano Prim, Sagasta Rivero, Castelar

O Donnell

Jblo en el ayuntamiento de Barcelona por las

noticias de la conquista de Tetun


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7.2 The Constitution of 1869

It made Spain the most politically progressive country in the world at that time. Itcontained radical provisions such as the universal suffrages for all males over 35 yearsold, religious freedom and the right of association. All the power is placed in the Cortes.

Serrano was officially the regent until Spain gets a new monarch, and Primofficiallyruled the government.

Republican party (radical majority) was founded because they thought that therevolution had been betrayed. Republicans were marginalized by the newconstitution.

7.3. Amadeo I . 1871 - 1873

The search for a new king wasnt easy at all. The candidate had to contend Carlits,

Alfonsons partisans (son of Isabella, she abdicated in him), Democrats, Progressivesso,

suitable candidates were few. Some candidates were Leopoldo Hohenzollern, Dukeof Montpensier, Espartero

The Cortes offered the throne to Amadeo I, from the House of Savoy, and he acceptedin 1870. His principal supporter was general Prim (perhaps the ablest military politician of thecentury), who had died at the hands of the assassins the same day that Amadeo arrivedin Spain (December 30).After Prims deathAmadeo I dealt with intractable problems :

The Carlists launched the third Carlist war in 1872. His new pretender wasCharles VII.

He inherited a colonial rebellion in Cuba. The Spanish governments refused topermit Cuba commercial freedom. In 1867 a group of secessionists launched arebellion.

The revolutionary coalition of 1868 rapidly disintegrated after Prims death. Theradical wing of the progressives, under Ruiz Zorrilla, joined forces with theDemocrats and founded the Radical Party. The conservative wing ofProgressives was under Sagasta.

Amadeo I also faced the impaclable opposition of Republican federalists and thearistocratic Alfonsistas.

Progressives

Radical wing: Zorrila

Conservative wing:

Sagasta (future

Constitutional Party )

Democrats

Radical Party


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Political classes did very little to protect workers from unfair and unsafe workingconditions. Keep in mind that this is the context of the First International and somepeople expected a widespread socialist revolution.

By 11 February 1873, lacking any significant support among the political classes and

people, Amadeo had enough and abdicated the throne. In the absence of any viablealternative a Republic was founded.

7.4. The First Republic 1873- 1874

The Cortes proclaimed Spain a Republic. It lasted one year. Four presidents had theRepublic, one after another. They were focused on the question of how much powerthe central government should delegate to regional authorities.

a) Estanislao Figueras, a moderate Catalan federalist took power on February11, 1873, but the more radicals federalists replacedhim with Pi i Margall.

b) Pi I Margall was a Catalan writer. He lasted only from June to July 1873,coincided with the uprising of Alcoy, and the Cantonalist revolt. Pi i Margall tookthe blame.

c) Nicols Salmern replaced Pi i Margall. He lasted in the presidency only fromJuly to September 1873. The Republic was pulling back toward the center.

d) Emilio Castelar tried to restore the order with the collaboration of the army,which cost him the support of his colleagues in the Cortes.

There were a lot of problems under the Republica, among them:

Mutinies in the army Anti clerical demonstrations and workers revolts some of them fomented

by the First International. (In Alcoy, workers killed the mayor and control thewhole city).

The wars against Cuba and and Carlists The cantons. Republican revolutionary comittees that declared they to be

self governing (for example, Mlaga, Cartagena, Camuas).This wasseen as a period of anarchy by many officers because people began to disobey

them. Fanatism and social rebellion had become a way of life.

Army leaders once again intervened in in policy. In 1874, General Manuel Pavaoverthrew the established government and established a conservative unitaryrepublic under General Serrano. Republicanism was disaccredited.

The opinion began to shift towards the Alfonsista camp. A new pronunciamientoissued by BrigadierMartinez Campos restored the Bourbon monarchy and installedAlfonso XII on the throne. Martinez Campos also neutralized the Carlist rebellion.Both generals (Pava and Campos) acted as soldier and citizens from to save societyfrom anarchy. Militarism had decided once again the political destiny of Spain.

Like the Revolution of 1854, the Six Revolutionary Years was a political failure.


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8. DEMOGRAPHY, SOCIETY, ECONOMY AND CULTURE

The century that followed the death of Ferdinand VII was marked by far reachingsocial change, rapid demographic change, and significant economic growth.

Demography

Average life expectancy which had stood at 27 years in the 18th century, had reached51by 1910. Also Spains population grew rapidly:

1830 11 million people1920 24 million people

An agrarian society

Spain had poor soils, deficient communications, inadequate investment and rigidlytraditional ownership. Spains overall agrarian structure changed relatively little. By1884, wine accounted 45% of total Spanish exports. The well irrigated lands ofLevante had high productivity. 1% of the population owned 45 % of the cultivablelands in 1900.

Food shortages, chronic unemployment and extreme povertyfuelled explosions ofrural uprisings. Anarchists found enthusiastic support among the depressed agriculturalcommunities of Southern Spain.

In Madrid was a program of urban improvements that was introduced in 1846: the citywas supplied with clean water, new roads, gas lighting, new theaters and new cafswere introduced.

A failed industrial revolution?

Agriculture remained the dominant economic activity in Spain. However, slowly Spainwas beginning to industrialized due to:

Demand for Spain raw materials Foreign investment and local capital introduced Spain in the railway age. The

first line was between Barcelona Matar ( 29 kms, in 1848). The Railway Act of 1855 paved the way for a major phase of railway building.

The railway revolution helped to break isolation of local economies.

Industrial development was concentrated in two main areas:

a) Catalonia. Here factory textile was predominated. For example, theBonaplata factory was among the first to make use of steam engine. Therewere many strikes in the 1840s because of the introduction of spinningmachines .Catalan textile was against free trade. The industrial sector wasdominated by influential families like Tous or Gell.

b) Vizcaya. Here iron ore reserves were a magnet for foreign investors. Bankinginstitutions such as Bank of Bilbao contributed to the modern development.


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The conglomerate Altos Hornos de Vizcaya employed 6000 workers. Importantfamilies here were the Urquijos.

If we compare Spains industrial development (1830 1930) with other internationalcompetitors (France, Germany, USA) it came into insignificance.

Assuming that, Spains industrial failure has been attributed to a number of factors:

The agricultural sector was predominant. Also it failed to deliver the capitalfor industrial investment.

The loss of Spains overseas colonies.

An inadequate communications infrastructure Lack of enterprise and entrepreneurs

Culture

On the kings death in 1833 there was a resurgence of cultural activity:

Literary societies were established such as the Atheneum in Madrid (1835) The re emergence ofperiodical press, reflected different shades of political

opinion. The emigrants who returned to Spain bring the influences of Romantic

Movement. That was the cases of the mordant essayist and satirist MarianoJos de Larra and the poet Jos de Espronceda. They emphasize the primacyof emotionalism over reason.

The final third of the 19th century was accompanied by a dramatic explosion of cultural

creativity. Influenced by such writers as Balzac and Dickens, Spanish novelist began toexperiment the techniques of literary realism. The most prolific was Benito PrezGalds, whose novels portrait a vivid Madrid society of his time, as well asperspectives on Spains turbulent recent history.

Spain remained receptive to European intellectual currents.


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LIBERALISM AND REACTION IN SPAIN. 1833 1875

1. INTRODUCTION

THE REIGN OF ISABELLA II 1833 - 1868

2. THE REGENCY OF MARA CRISTINA 1833 1840.

(She acted as regent until Isabella came of age in 1843)

2.1. First Carlist War 1833 1840

2.2. Political Parties

2.3. Moderates rule: The Royal Statute. 1833 1835

2.4. The tension increased

3. THE REGENCY OF ESPARTERO 1840 1843 (Isabella is still minor of age)

4. THE MODERATE DECADE 1844 - 1854.( ISABELLA OFFICIALLY CAME OF AGE(13 years old)

5. THE PROGRESSIVE BIENNIUM 1854 1856

6. THE MODERATES AND THE LIBERAL UNION 1856 1868

7. SIX REVOLUTIONARY YEARS 1868 - 1874

7.1. The Glorious Revolution, 18687.2. The Constitution of 1869

.7.3. Amadeo I 1871 - 1873

7.4. The First Republic1873- 1874

8. DEMOGRAPHY, SOCIETY, ECONOMY AND CULTURE

Es artero

Bravo

Murillo

ODonnell Amadeo I Pi i Margall Serrano

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