Moderate Party (Spain)

Quick Facts: Who was Moderate Party (Spain)?

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Moderate Party (Spain)

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A defunct Spanish political party advocating centralism, royal power, and limited suffrage.

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Origins & Early Life

The Moderate Party (Spanish: Partido Moderado) or Moderate Liberal Party (Spanish: Partido Liberal Moderado) was one of the two Spanish political parties that contended for power during the reign of Isabel II (reigned 1833–1868). Like the opposing Progressive Party (Spanish: Partido Progresista), it characterised itself as liberal and dynasticist; both parties supported Isabel against the claims of the Carlists. The Moderates contained various factions. Some supported working with Progressives, but others sought closer ties with the Old Regime. However, the party's dominant ideology was adherence to the centrist juste milieu of the French Doctrinaires.

Career & Major Achievements

The "moderates" or "liberal moderates" were a continuation of the doceañistas, supporters of the Spanish Constitution of 1812 during the Trienio Liberal ("liberal triennium") of 1820–1823, as opposed to the more radical exaltados or veinteañistas. In the last years of the reign of Ferdinand VII they had effected a mutual drawing together with the least absolutist elements of his government. Upon the death of Ferdinand, they supported the royal claim of the king's only child, the three-year-old Isabel, under the regency of queen mother Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies. In contrast, the Carlists supported a strongly absolutist monarchy, essentially a continuation of the Antiguo Régimen, under the Infante Carlos, Count of Molina. The party was organized in 1834 during the governmental presidency of Francisco Martínez de la Rosa.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

After several years of progressivist domination, it held power continuously during the so-called Década moderada ("Moderate decade", 1843–1854) under the leadership of General Ramón María Narváez; after the bienio progresista ("progressivist biennium", 1853–1855) it returned to power allied with the Liberal Union (Spanish: Unión Liberal). After the Glorious Revolution of 1868 and the constitution of 1869 they failed to obtain representation in the new Cortes, and lost all power. When the monarchy was restored in 1874 following the First Spanish Republic, they united with the Liberal Union to form the Conservative Party under the direction of Antonio Cánovas del Castillo. The party's political ideology of "Moderantism" (Spanish: moderantismo) is comparable to British conservatism and, especially, to French doctrinairism, from whom its ideologues (especially Juan Donoso Cortés) took part of their argumentation. Their principal ideas were: Strong royal power Pure capitalism Domestic peace Total centralism, with all power emanating from Madrid.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1812: 1812 Milestone — The "moderates" or "liberal moderates" were a continuation of the doceañistas, supporters of the Spanish Constitution of 1812 during the Trienio Liberal ("liberal triennium") of 1820–1823, as opposed to the more radical exaltados or veinteañistas.
2. 1833: 1833 Milestone — The Moderate Party (Spanish: Partido Moderado) or Moderate Liberal Party (Spanish: Partido Liberal Moderado) was one of the two Spanish political parties that contended for power during the reign of Isabel II (reigned 1833–1868).
3. 1834: 1834 Milestone — The party was organized in 1834 during the governmental presidency of Francisco Martínez de la Rosa.
4. 1843: 1843 Milestone — After several years of progressivist domination, it held power continuously during the so-called Década moderada ("Moderate decade", 1843–1854) under the leadership of General Ramón María Narváez; after the bienio progresista ("progressivist biennium", 1853–1855) it returned to power allied with the Liberal Union (Spanish: Unión Liberal).
5. 1868: 1868 Milestone — After the Glorious Revolution of 1868 and the constitution of 1869 they failed to obtain representation in the new Cortes, and lost all power.
6. 1874: 1874 Milestone — When the monarchy was restored in 1874 following the First Spanish Republic, they united with the Liberal Union to form the Conservative Party under the direction of Antonio Cánovas del Castillo.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Moderate Party (Spain)

True or False: “Did the Moderate Party immediately lose all political relevance after the Glorious Revolution of 1868?”

Answer (FALSE ❌): Although they lost representation in the new Cortes after 1868, they later reunited with the Liberal Union to form the Conservative Party when the monarchy was restored in 1874.

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