History point 1 UT4

• The events of the French Revolution at the end of the 18th century had a profound effect on Spain.
• During the reign of Carlos IV Spain declared war to revolutionary France, but the prime minister Godoy established good relations with France under Napoleon.
• In this context, Spain joined Napoleon in his war against Great Britain (defeat at the Battle of Trafalgar, 1805) and against Portugal (sign of the Treaty of Fontainebleau, 1807).
• With the pretext of this treaty, Napoleon began the occupation of Spain.
• He moved the royal family to Bayona after a popular revolt against Godoy (Mutiny of Aranjuez, 1808) and crowned his brother as José I Bonaparte (Abdications of Bayona, 1808).
• In 3 May 1808, the people of Madrid rose up in arms against the French and were then suppressed.
• In response to this event, a patriotic feeling spread across the country and the War of the Spanish Independence started in 3 May 1808 and lasted until 1814.
• The majority of the Spanish population considered Fernando VII, son of Carlos IV, as the legitimate king, while a minority, mainly composed of intellectuals, supported the new monarchy of José I.
• Despite suffering his first defeat on an open field (Bailén, 1808)
• The Spanish were forced to use guerrilla war to weaken the invaders and had the military support of Green Britain.
• Finally, the French troops were defeated and Napoleon signed the Treaty of Valençay in 1813, in which he recognised Fernando VII as King of Spain and the Indies.
• In 1810, in the middle of the conflict, Cortes were summoned in Cádiz to direct the war effort against the French.
• The liberals were able to dominate them against the absolutists, and based it on the principle of national sovereignty.
• The Cortes were responsible for the Constitution of 1812, published on 19 March and colloquially known as La Pepa.
• This constitution marked the end of the Old Regime in Spain and contained the basic principles of liberalism.
• At the end of the War of Spanish Independence, Fernando VII returned to Spain.
• With the support of the absolutists (shown through the Manifiesto de los Persas), he abolished the Constitution and the reforms of the Cortes de Cádiz and reestablished absolutism.
• The repression towards liberals, who led several pronunciamientos (military uprisings) against the absolutist regime of Fernando VII.
• The War of the Spanish Independence started in 1808 and lasted until 1814.
• The majority of the Spanish population considered Fernando VII as the legitimate king during the war, while a minority supported the new monarchy of José I.
• The Spanish used guerrilla warfare and had the military support of Great Britain to weaken the French invaders.
• Napoleon signed the Treaty of Valençay in 1813, recognizing Fernando VII as King of Spain.
• The Cortes were summoned in Cádiz in 1810 to direct the war effort against the French and were responsible for the Constitution of 1812.
• After the War of Spanish Independence, Fernando VII returned to Spain and abolished the Constitution and reforms of the Cortes de Cádiz.
• Fernando VII's reign was marked by repression towards liberals, the independence of Spanish colonies in America, and the problem of succession.
• The independence of Spanish colonies in America was led by criollos and inspired by Enlightenment ideas and the example of the USA.
• The problem of succession led to the Primera Guerra Carlista (1833-1839) between supporters of Isabel and supporters of Don Carlos.