Spanish War of Independence and the Constitution of 1812
The Spanish War of Independence (1808-1814)
Gerra of Independence Text 1
Nature of the Text
Historical narrative, primary source.
Date and Circumstances
The exact date is unknown, but the text refers to events in Spain in 1808. Following the abdication of Charles IV and Ferdinand VII, Napoleon’s army occupied the Iberian Peninsula. The Spanish people rose up in resistance, starting the War of Independence.
Analysis
The text assesses the governing Boards that emerged in Spain during the early years of the War of Independence. It describes their members as an incoherent aggregate of individuals motivated by patriotism but lacking expertise. It also states that the Boards struggled to fulfill their duties due to the challenging circumstances and a lack of qualified members.
The author notes that the Boards’ primary purposes were to resist the foreign invasion and to introduce reforms within the country.
Background and Causes
The War of Independence stemmed from the conflict between Napoleon and England. Napoleon’s decision to invade Portugal for defying the Continental Blockade led to the signing of the Treaty of Fontainebleau (1807) with Spain, granting Napoleon passage through Spanish territory.
Simultaneously, the Spanish monarchy was in crisis. The Mutiny of Aranjuez in 1808 resulted in the dismissal of Prime Minister Godoy and the abdication of Charles IV in favor of his son, Ferdinand VII. Napoleon intervened, summoning the royal family to Bayonne (April 1808), where both Charles IV and Ferdinand VII renounced the throne. Napoleon then installed his brother, Joseph Bonaparte, as King of Spain.
The Spanish people’s resistance to the French occupation culminated in the uprising of May 2nd in Madrid, triggered by the departure of the last member of the royal family. The insurrection spread to other cities, leading to the formation of governing Boards to organize defense and administration.
The Development of the War
The war can be divided into three phases:
- During 1808, the sieges of Zaragoza and Gerona stalled Napoleon’s advance. The Spanish victory at Bailen forced the French to retreat north, prompting Napoleon to personally intervene with a large army. By the end of 1808, he had reached Madrid.
- Despite assistance from England (Duke of Wellington’s troops), the French victory at Ocana (1809) allowed Napoleon to control most of the Peninsula, except for Cadiz and the eastern region. Between 1810 and 1812, French control reached its peak. Guerrilla warfare became prominent during this phase.
- In 1812, Napoleon withdrew troops for his Russian campaign. Anglo-Spanish forces defeated the French at Ciudad Rodrigo, Arapiles (1812), Vitoria (1813), and San Marcial (1813). Napoleon signed the Treaty of Valencay (1813) with Ferdinand VII, restoring him to the Spanish throne.
The Consequences of the War
The war resulted in significant loss of life, widespread destruction, economic devastation, the bankruptcy of the royal treasury, the accelerated decline of the Spanish Empire, political revolution, and ultimately, Spain’s decline to a second-rate power in Europe.
The Constitution of 1812
Constitution Text 2
Nature of the Text
Legal text, primary source.
Date
March 19, 1812.
Spatiotemporal Circumstances
The Central Supreme Council, convened in Cadiz during the power vacuum, decided to assemble the Cortes to draft the first Spanish Constitution during the War of Independence.
Analysis
The text discusses the Constitution of 1812, Spain’s first constitution. It was liberal in nature, with key features including:
- National sovereignty
- Division of powers (legislative, executive, judicial)
- Recognition of fundamental individual rights
- Election of representatives by universal suffrage
Comment of Text
The Cortes of Cadiz convened after the dissolution of the Central Board in 1810. With most of Spain (except Cadiz) under French occupation and Joseph Bonaparte’s monarchy seemingly consolidated, the war had entered a guerrilla phase. The deputies, reflecting the diverse viewpoints within Spanish society, fell into three main groups:
- Absolutists who advocated for maintaining the existing political system.
- Moderates (including the enlightened Jovellanos) who favored a compromise between absolutism and a constitutional model based on national sovereignty.
- Liberals who proposed a unicameral legislature embodying national sovereignty and a constitution reflecting the reforms introduced by the French Revolution.
The liberal position ultimately prevailed due to the absence of many deputies and their replacement by individuals present in Cadiz, a major commercial center and one of Spain’s most open and progressive cities with a strong liberal presence. However, the liberal revolution was not solely driven by the bourgeoisie, as not all clergy and nobility supported absolutism. They were divided into three factions: absolutists, liberals, and moderates (supporters of a compromise).
After the war, the Cortes moved to Madrid, but Ferdinand VII restored absolutism, dissolved the Cortes, and annulled the Constitution.
Key Contributions of the Cortes of Cadiz
The legislative work of the Cortes of Cadiz made four significant contributions to Spanish history:
- The first decree (September 24, 1810) established that sovereignty resided in the nation.
- It proclaimed equality before the law, challenging the estate-based social structure.
- It implemented important reforms, including freedom of the press, abolition of torture, elimination of the voto de Santiago (a tax levied on the Church), and suppression of the Inquisition.
- It drafted the Constitution of 1812, Spain’s first constitution. Although liberal, it represented a compromise between liberal and absolutist factions.