Progressive Party (Spain)
Encyclopedia
The Progressive Party was one of the two Spanish
political parties that contended for power during the reign of Isabel II (reigned 1833–1868). They were to the left
of the opposing Moderate Party
, but also characterized themselves as liberal
. Like the Moderates, they supported Isabel against the claims of the Carlists
.
The party was established in 1834 as the extreme liberal opposition, during the regency
of queen mother
Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies
; Queen Isabel was only three years old. It was the party of the exaltados, veinteañistas or progresistas, heirs of the Trienio Liberal ("liberal triennium") of 1820–1823, whereas the Moderate Party represented the doceañistas who traced their roots to the Spanish Constitution of 1812
. The Progressives were the party of the National Militia
, the jury
trial, laicism, and of national sovereignty
and the broadening of the franchise under census suffrage. On this last matter, their position was somewhat milder than popular sovereignty
, in that it did not necessarily call for the universal franchise.
Like their Moderate opponents, they supported the monarchy of Isabel II, particularly against the Carlist pretenders. Their political position, however, was repeatedly compromised as Maria Christina and later Isabela herself continually attempted to achieve a compromise with the Carlists.
The Progressive Party disintegrated gradually after the murder of its last leader, General Juan Prim, 1st Marquis of los Castillejos in 1870, splitting into the Constitutional Party
, the Democratic-Radical Party, and the Democratic Party
. It wasn't formally dissolved, however, until the 1874 restoration of the monarchy
.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
political parties that contended for power during the reign of Isabel II (reigned 1833–1868). They were to the left
Left-wing politics
In politics, Left, left-wing and leftist generally refer to support for social change to create a more egalitarian society...
of the opposing Moderate Party
Moderate Party (Spain)
The Moderate Party or Moderate Liberal Party was one of the two Spanish political parties that contended for power during the reign of Isabel II...
, but also characterized themselves as liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
. Like the Moderates, they supported Isabel against the claims of the Carlists
Carlism
Carlism is a traditionalist and legitimist political movement in Spain seeking the establishment of a separate line of the Bourbon family on the Spanish throne. This line descended from Infante Carlos, Count of Molina , and was founded due to dispute over the succession laws and widespread...
.
The party was established in 1834 as the extreme liberal opposition, during the regency
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
of queen mother
Queen mother
Queen Mother is a title or position reserved for a widowed queen consort whose son or daughter from that marriage is the reigning monarch. The term has been used in English since at least 1577...
Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies
Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies
Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies was Queen consort of Spain and Regent of Spain .-Early years and first marriage:...
; Queen Isabel was only three years old. It was the party of the exaltados, veinteañistas or progresistas, heirs of the Trienio Liberal ("liberal triennium") of 1820–1823, whereas the Moderate Party represented the doceañistas who traced their roots to the Spanish Constitution of 1812
Spanish Constitution of 1812
The Spanish Constitution of 1812 was promulgated 19 March 1812 by the Cádiz Cortes, the national legislative assembly of Spain, while in refuge from the Peninsular War...
. The Progressives were the party of the National Militia
National Militia (Spain)
The National Militia in Spain was a citizen-organized quasi-military force comparable to the National Guard that arose in France during the French Revolution....
, the jury
Jury
A jury is a sworn body of people convened to render an impartial verdict officially submitted to them by a court, or to set a penalty or judgment. Modern juries tend to be found in courts to ascertain the guilt, or lack thereof, in a crime. In Anglophone jurisdictions, the verdict may be guilty,...
trial, laicism, and of national sovereignty
National sovereignty
National sovereignty is the doctrine that sovereignty belongs to and derives from the nation, an abstract entity normally linked to a physical territory and its past, present, and future citizens. It is an ideological concept or doctrine derived from liberal political theory...
and the broadening of the franchise under census suffrage. On this last matter, their position was somewhat milder than popular sovereignty
Popular sovereignty
Popular sovereignty or the sovereignty of the people is the political principle that the legitimacy of the state is created and sustained by the will or consent of its people, who are the source of all political power. It is closely associated with Republicanism and the social contract...
, in that it did not necessarily call for the universal franchise.
Like their Moderate opponents, they supported the monarchy of Isabel II, particularly against the Carlist pretenders. Their political position, however, was repeatedly compromised as Maria Christina and later Isabela herself continually attempted to achieve a compromise with the Carlists.
The Progressive Party disintegrated gradually after the murder of its last leader, General Juan Prim, 1st Marquis of los Castillejos in 1870, splitting into the Constitutional Party
Constitutional Party (Spain)
The Constitutional Party was one of the Spanish political parties that contended for power during the reign of Amadeo I and the First Spanish Republic , opposing the Radical Democratic Party....
, the Democratic-Radical Party, and the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (Spain)
The Democratic Party was a Spanish political party in the reign of Isabella II , being a clandestine force except during the Progressive Biennium ....
. It wasn't formally dissolved, however, until the 1874 restoration of the monarchy
Spain under the Restoration
The Restoration was the name given to the period that began on December 29, 1874 after the First Spanish Republic ended with the restoration of Alfonso XII to the throne after a coup d'état by Martinez Campos, and ended on April 14, 1931 with the proclamation of the Second Spanish Republic.After...
.