Spanish American Independence: Causes, Process, and Impact

Spanish American Independence: A Historical Overview

Spain's Internal Turmoil: The Carlist Wars

The Carlists considered Carlos María Isidro (Charles V) as the legitimate successor. Civil war erupted when Elizabeth was only two years old, leaving Maria Cristina as regent. The Carlists were staunchly attached to royal absolutism. Isabel (or Maria Cristina) allied with the Liberals for support, despite not being liberals themselves.

Causes of Latin American Independence

• The discomfort of the Creole ruling classes (Spanish-born in America), who felt politically neglected in areas of power in favor of peninsular Spaniards and threatened in some regions by the non-white majority (Indigenous peoples, Black people, and Mestizos).
• The crisis of 1808 in Spain, which opened the debate on relations with the Spanish Crown.
• The ideological influence of the U.S. independence, the Haitian Revolution, and the French Revolution.

The Process of Independence in Latin America

The political crisis of 1808 initially led to a similar response in America as in Spain: the formation of juntas. However, discrimination against American representation in the Central Junta and the call to the Cortes of Cádiz sparked the first protests among Creole elites and struggles between those loyal to Ferdinand VII and those advocating for autonomy. From this point, an irreversible process of independence began:

• In May 1810, autonomists seized power in Buenos Aires, and its independence became unstoppable. Similar attempts occurred between 1810 and 1814 in Venezuela, Mexico, and Colombia, though with limited success.
• From 1814 onwards, independence leaders Simón Bolívar and José de San Martín adapted their strategies to the sociopolitical conditions of the colonies, promising the redemption of enslaved people. The rebellion spread, and the rebels received aid from Britain.
• Spain's political and economic situation hindered its ability to maintain control over the independence process. The final decisive defeat occurred at Ayacucho (Peru) in 1824. The Spanish Empire was subsequently reduced to Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines.

Consequences for Spain and the Empire

The loss of the old colonies severely aggravated the political and fiscal problems of the absolute monarchy. It also negatively affected those industries and crops that had long enjoyed a protected market in America. This occurred at a time when other European countries were rapidly advancing in the industrialization process.