Latin American Independence Movements and Spanish Liberalism

Causes of Independence

The creole minority was unhappy. They possessed great economic power, but the Spanish controlled taxes and trade. They were influenced by liberalism and nationalism. The UK and France supported independence for Spain's American territories because it would allow them to trade freely with the new nations.

Process of Independence

1810–1815: Power Vacuum

• The Spanish War of Independence led to a power vacuum in America.
• In 1810, juntas were established in several territories that declared their independence.
• With the return of Fernando VII to the throne, Spain recovered territories except Río de la Plata.

1816–1828: Liberation Victories

• General San Martín declared the independence of Argentina in 1816. He defeated royalist armies at Chacabuco and Maipú, winning independence for Chile in 1818.
• Simón Bolívar created the Republic of Gran Colombia in 1819 (comprising Colombia, Panama, Venezuela, Ecuador). He aimed to create a United States of South America.
• Peru gained independence in 1824. Mexico won its independence in 1821 under Agustín de Iturbide. Bolivia followed in 1825, and Uruguay in 1828.

Triumph of Liberalism in Spain (1833–1844)

Spain was ruled by regents for several years. The government initially sought to maintain absolutism, but the First Carlist War forced it to seek support among the liberals. Liberals were divided into two factions:

Moderate vs. Progressive Ideologies

• The Regency of María Cristina (1833–1840): Isabel II's mother sided with the Moderates. The government later conceded to the Progressives, implementing Mendizábal's policy of desamortización (disentailment) in 1836 and the Constitution of 1837.
• The Regency of General Espartero (1841–1843): Espartero was a Progressive. (The regencies occurred because Isabel II was still a minor.)

The Moderate Decade (1844–1854)

During the first years of her personal reign, Isabel II only chose Moderates. The Constitution of 1845 reflected a Moderate ideology:

• Sovereignty was shared between the Queen and Parliament (with very restricted suffrage, around 0.8%).
• Individual rights, such as freedom of the press, were restricted.
• The state was centralized.

Democrats and Republicans, who were even more radical, distanced themselves from the liberal regime. In 1854, General O'Donnell rebelled in La Vicalvarada, which ended the Moderate Decade.

The Progressive Biennium (1854–1856)

• The Constitution of 1856, which was never enacted.
• Madoz's desamortización.

An economic crisis, social conflicts, and the struggle for power ultimately ended the Progressive government.

Moderates and Unionists (1856–1868)

In 1854, O'Donnell created the Unión Liberal, a centrist political party. This party alternated in power with the Moderates. In 1866, the Democrats began to conspire against Isabel II.