The Emancipation of the American Colonies and the Fall of the Spanish Monarchy
The Emancipation of the American Colonies
Creoles refused to accept the authority of Joseph Bonaparte and created boards that assumed power in their territories. By 1810, many of them declared themselves autonomous from the metropoli. The secessionist regions included:
- Viceroyalty of the Rio de la Plata
- Viceroyalty of New Granada
- Venezuela
The courts were unable to intervene against the independence movement, as they struggled to maintain control over Hispanic territory. The emancipation of the colonies and the creation of republics did not solve all existing problems in Hispanic America:
Challenges of the New Republics
- The Dream of Unity: The vision of the libertadores, especially Bolivar, to achieve a unified and solidary America proved impossible.
- Local Warlords: Regional leaders sought to dominate and exploit their own territories.
- Social Inequality: The Creoles who led the independence movement abandoned the vast majority of the Indian, Black, and poor populations, resulting in major social upheaval.
- Economic Dependence: Political independence did not involve economic independence for the subcontinent. Spanish rule was simply replaced by British and U.S. influence.
The Monarchy of Charles IV
Charles IV's reliance on Manuel Godoy, a young soldier of humble origins, illustrated the instability of the government. Following the execution of the French monarch Louis XVI, Charles IV was pressured to declare war on France alongside other absolute monarchies.
The Decline of Spanish Power
After the defeat of Spanish troops, the Peace of Basel subordinated Spanish politics to French interests. The crown vacillated between fear of France and attempts to align with it to avoid confrontation with Napoleon's powerful army. These alliances led to conflict with Great Britain, with the Battle of Trafalgar serving as the most relevant milestone. The destruction of the Franco-Spanish navy resulted in the loss of almost the entire fleet.
Internal Reforms and Opposition
Faced with this situation, Godoy resorted to borrowing and comprehensive reforms, such as the desamortización (seizure) of church lands. These actions caused widespread opposition from the nobility and the church.