ISABELLA II´S REIGN

By Lauraasanchez

  • The Regency of María Cristina

    Isabella is only three years old, so for ten years Spain ruled by two regents.
    During the regency years of the Queen Mother, the transition from absolutism to liberalism was made, that had a first violent manifestation in the confrontation between Carlists and Liberals. The Constitution of 1837, which recognized the principle of national sovereignty, was the affirmation of the liberal regime

  • 1st Carlist War (1833-39)

    Many Spanish people didn´t want a female monarch. They wanted Ferdinand´s younger brother, Charles.
    Isabella´s supporters included liberals and moderate conservatives. They believed in the separation of powers, and wanted to modernise the economy; and the Carlists were conservatives, who wanted a tradicional society based on the Catholic religion and absolute monarchy.
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    REGENCY

  • General Espartero

    For two years, General Espartero presided over Spanish political life, first from a Regency Cabinet, appointed after the resignation of María Cristina, and from March 1841 as Regent.
    His ruled was more progressive than María Cristina

  • Moderate Decade (1844-1854)

    When Isabella is thirteen, she stars to rule as Queen herself and the Moderates, led by General Narváez, increase the power of the monarchy and create the Civil Guard
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    ISABELL´S PERSONAL REIGN

  • 2nd Carlist War (1846-49) and (1872-76)

    In 1835, the goverment started selling Church land to pay for the war (Mendizabal´s desamortización). This helped the goverment to win, but the Carlist remained unhappy with rhe situation in Spain. They believed that Charles and his hers were the rightful kings of Spain.
    This later led to two further Carlist war (1846-49 and 1872-76)

  • Progressive Biennium (1854-1856)

    The Progressives, led by Espartero, nationalise and sell the common lands of the municipalities (Madoz´s desamortización) and encourage the development of railways

  • Moderates and Liberal Union (1856-1868)

    General O´Donnell creates a new party called Liberal Union, with members from both the other parties. Until 1868, power alternates between the Moderates and Liberal Union. Spain is involved in a number of foreign wars