Reign of Ferdinand VII (1814-1833) & Regency of María Cristina
Reign of Ferdinand VII (1814-1833)
The Absolute Government (1814-1820)
March 1814: Ferdinand VII returned to Spain and was greeted with great enthusiasm. Arriving in Valencia, a group of MPs released the absolutist Manifesto of the Persas, requesting the restoration of absolute monarchy.
May 4, 1814: Ferdinand VII decreed the annulment of the 1812 Constitution.
Years of deep economic crisis and war had impoverished the country and destroyed crops.
1816: Independence movements began to generalize in
The American & French Revolutions and the Rise of Liberalism & Nationalism
1. The Origins of the American Revolution
The American Revolution was the first conflict where ideas expressed by liberal thinkers were put into practice, leading to the creation of a new state: the United States. The American Revolution was a conflict between the settlers of New England and Great Britain, ending with the independence of the former. The settlers were not prepared to continue paying taxes without representation in the British Parliament. The conflict that the thirteen colonies faced
Read MoreThe Reign of the Catholic Monarchs in Spain
The Dynastic Union of the Catholic Monarchs
John II ruled Aragon, and Henry IV, also of the Trastámara dynasty, ruled Castile. Upon the death of Henry IV’s sister, Elizabeth, she faced her niece, Juana la Beltraneja, for the throne. Juana relied on her fiancé, Alfonso of Portugal, while Isabella’s husband was Ferdinand, the future King of Aragon, whom she married in 1469. The Castilian Civil War broke out in 1474. The nobles supported Isabella, believing her to be the better queen. Finally, in
Read MoreThe First Carlist War and the Rise of Liberalism in Spain
The First Carlist War: Two Choices
The First Carlist War (1833-1840) arose from a succession crisis in Spain. Upon the death of King Ferdinand VII, his daughter Isabella was proclaimed queen. However, Ferdinand’s brother, Infante Carlos, Count of Molina, challenged Isabella’s claim, asserting his right to the throne based on Salic Law, which excluded female succession. This dispute ignited a civil war between supporters of the traditionalist, absolutist regime (Carlists) and those who favored a more
Read MoreThe Reign of Charles IV and the Spanish War of Independence
1. The Crisis of the Reign of Charles IV
1.1 The Monarchy of Charles IV
Charles IV’s monarchy distanced itself from government ministers, entrusting power to Manuel Godoy. Following the example of French monarch Louis XVI, Charles IV declared war on France, resulting in Spain’s defeat. Spanish politics hesitated before the rise of Napoleon, fearing his power and attempting to appease France to avoid confrontation with Napoleon’s army. The Franco-Spanish navy was destroyed, and Charles IV lost his
Read More19th Century Revolutions & Expansions: France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Africa
French Revolution
A) Revolt of the Privileged
Amid rising prices and the bourgeoisie enjoying high profits, the French Revolution began. Encouraged by Enlightenment ideals, the bourgeoisie demanded political changes, while a powerful aristocracy clung to the old feudal model. A severe economic crisis, marked by hunger and popular discontent, further complicated the situation. Royal finances were in chronic deficit, primarily because the aristocracy paid no taxes, leading to the brink of bankruptcy.
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