The Manifesto of Manzanares was a document written by Antonio Cánovas del Castillo, signed by General Leopoldo O'Donnell and published on July 7, 1854 in Manzanares (Castilla-La Mancha). Through this, the protagonists of the Vicalvarada uprising demanded the reform of the Spanish political system and began the Progressive Biennium.
The document proclaims the regeneration of liberal principles as an immediate political project, and justifies the change of the political system. These liberal principles had been eliminated during the so-called moderate decade. Among these, the electoral law, the tax law and the substantial reduction in consumption taxes stand out.
The Manifesto proposed a political change for Spain, based on the ideas of the progressive current, although its authors were in favor of preserving the Spanish throne "but without a clique to dishonor it."
Consequently, General Baldomero Espartero was established at the head of the provisional government, after the triumph of the Revolution of 1854.
Causes
The text of the manifesto is framed in a crucial historical moment for Spain: the reign of Isabel II and in the period called the Progressive Biennium, which governed between 1854 and 1856. It is framed in the context of the decade of the moderates, who ruled under a regime of conservative tendency very close to authoritarianism.
During this period (moderate decade) Spain was governed through "cliques", which were basically political and economic groups with common interests. They ruled in alliance with the Crown to protect and preserve their mutual interests and privileges.
The moderates imposed the Constitution of 1845 of a conservative nature, which privileged order over freedom. In this administrative centralism was established and more importance was given to property, apart from the fact that it was unaware of the declaration of rights adopted in 1837.
This situation caused the rebellion of 1854, called the Vicalvarada de O'Donnell y Dulce, the consequences of which were the fragmentation of moderateism. Likewise, it motivated the creation of the Liberal Union and the publication of the Manzanares Manifesto.
General Leopoldo O'Donnell
Its content promoted the replacement of the political system of the moderates and their "cliques" by one of progressive content. The new government had General Espartero at the head, who had been an old ally of the queen.
Progressive Biennium
The Manzanares Manifesto is produced as a reaction to the government's intention to introduce reforms to the Constitution of 1845. The objective of these reforms was to give more power to the government.
Faced with this situation, progressives and some moderate sectors of the Court reacted. During the moderate decade, the Legislative had been a symbolic and limited power, whose political life was restricted to the Court, and this was dominated by pressure groups or cliques.
The Progressive Biennium began with the military pronouncement or rebellion of Vicálvaro of 1854. The pronouncement is accompanied by the Manzanares Manifesto; This manifesto to the nation was the justification for the uprising and outlined the direction the new government took.
Consequences
Policies
Due to the complex Spanish political reality during this time and the impossibility for any political sector to gain power and stay, a long cycle of electoral manipulation and military intervention was inaugurated in Spanish political life.
The constitution and establishment of a liberal-democratic regime in Spain was very long and difficult. During this process, military interventionism became a phenomenon that was repeated throughout the 19th century and much of the 20th century.
Spanish constitutionalism was born with a flaw: its marked partisan and ideological bias; this did not allow the alternation of power. The parties or groups that did not participate in the drafting of the Constitution had no opportunity to aspire to power through a peaceful and electoral route.
This sectarian and arbitrary political practice became the main cause of political instability.
During the Progressive Biennium and its justification contained in the Manzanares Manifesto, it returned to the prevailing political system in 1837. The progressive Constitution of 1856 was established, although it was not actually promulgated.
Economical
In the economic field, reforms were introduced that had very little success; one of these was the confiscation of Madoz. The most deprived classes and city councils were harmed, for which he did not win any popular support for the government.
Nor was free trade supported as thought, to which was added the rise in prices and the growing climate of social conflict. The tension increased with the worker and peasant revolts, which had to be harshly repressed.
Finally, General Leopoldo O'Donnell, who was chief of the army, had to replace Espartero and the Progressive Biennium came to an end.
Antonio Cánovas del Castillo
Main ideas
The Manzanares Manifesto has a dual purpose in terms of its recipients. It is aimed at the political class and the Spanish people, simultaneously. Try to convince Spain about the benefits and need for a change in the leadership of the State.
At the same time, it lays the foundation on which the motives for the proposed political reform rest. The main or central idea exposed in the document is the transition or change from the moderate to the progressive system.
These progressive demands represent the foundation of the period of government called Progressive Biennium (1854-1856).
Such political, social and economic demands had been eliminated by the governments of the moderate decade.
Secondary ideas
The secondary ideas contained in the Manzanares Manifesto were:
-The need to preserve the constitutional monarchy but "without a clique." The Liberals demanded that the Crown establish a government without alliances with powerful groups. This was one of the characteristics of the period of government of the moderates.
-The rule of law should prevail instead of arbitrariness. For the moderates, order was a matter superior to freedom and individual and collective rights defended by the philosophy of the liberal state.
-The consumption taxes had to be lowered.
-It was essential to promote municipal democratization to prevent municipalities and councils from depending on or being submitted by the central administration. Consequently, state centralism had to be abolished.
-Replace the Civil Guard and reestablish the National Militia to act in defense of the interests of all the people. The Civil Guard only defended the interests of the upper classes and not the lower and peasant classes.
References
- Manzanares Manifesto. Consulted of auladehistoria.org
- Manifesto of Manifesto historical context. Consulted of wikihistoria.net
- 1854: La Vicalvarada. Consulted of vicalvaro.jimdo.com
- The day of the "Manifesto of Manzanares", a date marked in red for Apple residents. manzanares.es
- The revolution of 1854: the beginning of the progressive biennium. Consulted from archivoshistoria.com
- Progressive Biennium. Consulted from fideus.com