The Cadiz Cortes and the Dawn of Liberal Spain
Classified in History
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The Fontainebleau Agreements and the Road to War
The Fontainebleau agreements permitted French troops access to Spain. This led to unrest, culminating in the uprising in Aranjuez. In light of this situation, Godoy and Charles IV were deposed. Ferdinand VII, initially favored by the people, abdicated in favor of his father to calm the situation, a decision he later regretted. To secure the crown, he sought Napoleon's support, leading to the infamous 'kidnapping' at Bayonne, where both father and son were coerced into relinquishing the Spanish crown to Napoleon. This event triggered the Spanish War of Independence.
The Power Vacuum and the Rise of the Cortes
With the monarchy in disarray, a power vacuum emerged in Spain. The Supreme Central Junta, initially formed from provincial committees, was established in Aranjuez. At the war's outset, the Spanish forces faced the French, but Napoleon's intervention and his troops' subsequent invasion of the entire territory shifted the balance. The Supreme National Junta, facing military setbacks, fled from Aranjuez to the safety of Cadiz. This failure led to accusations against the Central Junta, resulting in the formation of a provisional government known as the Royal Regency.
Reasons for the Creation of the Cortes
Amidst the power struggle and the Central Junta's waning influence, the idea of convening a Cortes gained traction. However, instead of a traditional royal court, the Cortes was assembled in the American city of Cadiz, with local authorities playing a significant role. This was partly due to concerns about events that could compromise the Spanish Empire.
Objectives of the Cadiz Cortes
- Members representing the Spanish nation swore an oath to defend its integrity. This implied that all obstacles to American independence would be removed.
- The Cortes aimed to enact change, reflecting the country's desire for a liberal parliamentary monarchy in Spain.
Representation and its Challenges
- Participants: The Cortes primarily comprised members of the intellectual middle class, including clergy, lawyers, civil servants, military personnel, professors, and representatives from industry and commerce.
- Exclusions: Notably absent were the high nobility, the church hierarchy, representatives from the occupied provinces, representatives from Spanish American territories, the general populace, and women.
The Cadiz Cortes: Nature and Performance
- Characteristics:
- The Cortes was formed as a moderate constituent assembly.
- It proclaimed national sovereignty.
- It declared equal rights for all citizens.
- Ideological Groups: Two main ideological currents emerged within the Cortes:
- Liberals: Advocated for revolutionary transformations. The liberal faction enjoyed significant support from the press in Cadiz.
- Absolutists: Favored maintaining the old monarchical order. The church, through its pulpits, actively promoted absolutist ideology.