Spain's progressive politicians, who had feared losing their left wing to the Democrats, are now excluded from power by the government of Isabella II.

The queen had taken a more active role in government after coming of age, but she is immensely unpopular throughout her reign.

She is viewed as beholden to whoever is closest to her at court, and the people of Spain believe hat she cares little for them.

As a result, there had been a fourth bourgeois revolutionary insurrection in 1854, led by General Domingo Dulce y Garay and General Leopoldo O'Donnell y Jarris.

Their coup had overthrown the dictatorship of Luis Jose Sartorius, 1st Count of San Luis.

As the result of the popular insurrection, the Partido Progresista (Progressive Party) had obtained widespread support in Spain and had come to power in the government in 1854.

In 1856, Isabella had attempted to form the Union Liberal Party, a pan-national coalition under the leadership of Leopoldo O'Donnell, who had already marched on Madrid that year and deposed another Espartero ministry.

Isabella's plan had failed and cost Isabella more prestige and favor with the people.

In 1860, Isabella launched a successful war against Morocco, waged by generals O'Donnell and Juan Prim y Prats, that had stabilized her popularity in Spain.

Prim, (a pharmacist's grandson and a striking example of the social mobility of the liberal army) had been the only member of the Progressive Party elected to the Cortes in 1857.

He had distinguished himself in the war between Spain and Morocco (1859-60) and in 1861 had been appointed to command the joint English, French, and Spanish expedition to Mexico.

Upon his return to Spain, Prim had resumed his political career and, as one of the leaders of the Progressive Party, opposes Isabella.

When Isabella's court ministers alienate Prime Minister O'Donnell's followers, a powerful coalition forms, and Prim drops his alliance with the Democrats.

General Ramón María Narváez, supported by reactionaries, returns briefly as premier.