When the Moderate Party under General Ramón María Narváez first took power in May 1844, they inherited the progressive Spanish Constitution of 1837, and promptly set about revising it to be more in line with their principals.

At the beginning of the década moderada, Queen Isabella II was only 13 years old; Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies was regent.

He curtailed freedom of expression, put an end to the popular election of municipal officials, and eliminated the National Militia.

The Moderates inherited the organization of Spain into provinces and municipalities, established by Javier de Burgos in the 1833 territorial division of the country.

Many Spanish Catholics were of the opinion that the clergy had suffered an inappropriate attack on their means of gaining a living; in this matter, the Holy See had a great deal of support among the populace against the government.

The government of Bravo Murillo ultimately achieved the Concordat of 1851, under which the Pope accepted the disentailments and the state committed itself to the maintenance of the Church.