Bienio progresista facts for kids

The Bienio Progresista (say: Bee-EN-yo Pro-gre-SEE-sta), which means "Progressive Two Years," was a special time in Spanish history. It lasted for two years, from July 1854 to July 1856. During this time, the Progressive Party tried to make big changes to how Spain was run.

Before this, the Moderate Party had been in charge for a long time, since 1843. This period was called the década moderada, or "Moderate Decade." The Progressives wanted more radical changes, while the Moderates preferred things to stay mostly the same.

Why Things Needed to Change

After ten years of the Moderate Party ruling, many people in Spain felt that the government was very corrupt. Only the richest people were allowed to vote, which meant less than one percent of the population could choose their leaders. This unfair system made many people angry.

These feelings led to protests and movements against the government. Leaders from the Progressive Party were often at the front of these movements. Even some Moderates, like General Leopoldo O'Donnell, were unhappy with how corrupt and ineffective the government had become.

The situation got worse when the prime minister, Juan Bravo Murillo, was removed from power in late 1852. The government started trying to rule by simply making new rules, ignoring the country's own constitution. Even many important Moderates were unhappy with the government chosen by the queen's mother, Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies.

The Vicalvarada Uprising

Protests started in the city of Zaragoza in February 1854 and spread across Spain by July. On June 28, 1854, General O'Donnell, who had been hiding in Madrid, gathered different groups of people. He led them to confront government troops near Vicálvaro, a place southeast of Madrid.

O'Donnell demanded a new government that would end the corruption. He made it clear that he respected Queen Isabella II, but not her government. This uprising became known as La Vicalvarada. It didn't immediately make the government fall, but it also wasn't quickly stopped. Over the next few weeks, soldiers in Barcelona also supported La Vicalvarada.

General O'Donnell and his troops moved south and met with another Progressive general, Serrano. Together, they released an important document called the Manifesto of Manzanares on July 7, 1854.

We want to keep the Queen, but without the bad advisors who dishonor her. We want the laws to be followed strictly, especially those about elections and the press. We want people to get jobs in the government and military based on their experience and skills. We want to give local towns more independence so they can manage their own interests. And to make sure all this happens, we want a National Militia (a citizen army). These are our goals, and we share them openly with the Nation. The new governments in the free provinces, the national parliament (Cortes generales), and the Nation itself will decide the final steps for the liberal changes we hope for. We have promised our swords to the will of the people, and we will not put them away until that will is satisfied.

This manifesto was shared with everyone, asking people to rise up and support it. People reacted right away with protests and revolts across the country. On July 17, regular citizens and soldiers took to the streets of Madrid and other cities. This was a violent uprising that even put the queen's mother, Maria Christina, in danger. She had to find a safe place to hide.

This uprising turned into a full-blown revolution, and even workers in Catalonia joined in. Queen Isabella II had no choice but to agree to the demands of the Manifesto. This is how the Bienio Progresista began.

What Happened During the Progressive Two Years

The Bienio Progresista was a time of great hope for many people. The new government, led by Baldomero Espartero, tried to put the ideas of the Manifesto of Manzanares into action. However, it didn't quite succeed in the end.

Political Changes

The Progressives wanted a new constitution that would be more progressive. They got rid of the Moderate Constitution of 1845 and tried to write a new one based on the Constitution of 1837. But they couldn't agree on a final document.

Still, they strongly supported the rights of citizens. These rights included freedom of expression (being able to say what you think), freedom of the press (newspapers being able to print what they want), and freedom of political association (people being able to form political groups). Because of these new freedoms, other political parties started to appear, including those with socialist and federalist ideas. The political scene became much more complex.

Workers used their new freedoms to organize protests, especially through general strikes. Farmers also began to protest and demand better conditions for themselves.

Local governments were given more power, and local elections were brought back. These new local governments also put pressure on the Progressive government. At the same time, the Moderates in the parliament used the free press to criticize the Progressives from their side.

Laws and Money

Even with all the political problems, the government made some big changes to the economy.

First, there was a law called the civil confiscation, led by Finance Minister Pascual Madoz. This law took properties owned by towns, military groups, hospitals, and charity homes. These properties were then sold to raise money for the government. This had negative effects not only on these institutions but also on poorer villagers. They used to rely on common lands owned by the towns for their food and survival. When these lands were sold to private owners, the villagers could no longer use them.

Second, another law offered big benefits to anyone who invested in building railways. Building railways was seen as very important for Spain's industrial growth. Because of this law, foreign investors, especially from France and the United Kingdom, put their money into building railways. This law also helped banks a lot.

Third, new laws were made to make banking and business easier. The goal was to help the financial system grow and support industrial development.

However, despite these good intentions, the result was a lot of confusion and instability. Because of all the problems and conflicts, General O'Donnell led another uprising in July 1856. This marked the end of the Bienio Progresista, which ultimately failed to achieve all its goals.

See also

In Spanish: Bienio Progresista para niños

• Trienio liberal
• Sexenio Democrático