Political evolution Royalist (Spanish American independence)

1 political evolution

1.1 role of regional rivalry
1.2 restoration of ferdinand vii
1.3 restoration of spanish constitution , independence

political evolution

royalist territories in western south america after battle of chacabuco of 1818. chiloé , valdivia royalist enclaves accessible sea.

the creation of juntas in spanish america in 1810 direct reaction developments in spain during previous 2 years. in 1808 ferdinand vii had been convinced abdicate napoleon in favor, granted throne brother, joseph bonaparte. supreme central junta had led resistance joseph s government , french occupation of spain, suffered series of reverses resulting in loss of northern half of country. on february 1, 1810, french troops took seville , gained control of of andalusia. supreme junta retreated cadiz , dissolved in favor of regency council of spain , indies. news of arrived throughout spanish america during next 3 weeks 9 months—depending on time took goods , people travel spain—political fault lines appeared. royal officials , spanish americans split between supported idea of maintaining status quo—that leaving government institutions , officers in place—regardless of developments in spain, , thought time had come establish local rule, through creation of juntas, in order preserve independence of spanish america french or rump government in spain no longer legitimately claim rule vast empire. important note that, @ first, juntas claimed carry out actions in name of deposed king , did not formally declare independence. juntas established in venezuela, río de la plata , new granada, , there unsuccessful movements in other regions. few juntas chose recognize regency, nevertheless creation of juntas challenged authority of sitting royal officials , right of government in spain rule in americas.

in months following establishment of regency, became clear spain not lost, , furthermore government reconstituting itself. regency convened cortes generales, traditional parliament of spanish monarchy, in case included representatives americas. regency , cortes began issuing orders to, , appointing, royal officials throughout empire. supported new government came called royalists. supported idea of maintaining independent juntas called patriots, , few among them proponents of declaring full, formal independence spain. cortes instituted liberal reforms , worked on drafting constitution, new division appeared among royalists. conservatives (often called absolutists in historiography) did not want see innovations in government, while liberals supported them. these differences become more acute after restoration of ferdinand vii, because king opted support conservative position.

role of regional rivalry

regional rivalry played important role in internecine wars broke out in spanish america result of juntas. disappearance of central, imperial authority—and in cases of local, viceregal authority (as in cases of new granada , río de la plata)—initiated prolonged period of balkanization in many regions of spanish america. not clear political units should replace empire, , there no new national identities replace traditional sense of being spaniards. original juntas of 1810 appealed first, sense of being spanish, juxtaposed against french threat; second, general american identity, juxtaposed against peninsula lost french; , third, sense of belonging local province, patria in spanish. more not, juntas sought maintain province s independence capital of former viceroyalty or captaincy general, as peninsula itself. armed conflicts broke out between provinces on question of whether provinces subordinate others in manner had been under crown. phenomenon particularly evident in new granada , río de la plata. rivalry lead regions adopt opposing political cause rivals. peru seems have remained royalist in large part because of rivalry río de la plata, had lost control of upper peru when latter elevated viceroyalty in 1776. creation of juntas in río de la plata allowed peru regain formal control of upper peru duration of wars.

restoration of ferdinand vii

the restoration of ferdinand vii signified important change, since of political , legal changes done on both sides of atlantic—the myriad of juntas, cortes in spain , several of congresses in americas evolved out of juntas, , many constitutions , new legal codes—had been done in name. once in spain ferdinand vii realized had significant support conservatives in general population , hierarchy of spanish catholic church, , on may 4, repudiated spanish constitution of 1812 , ordered arrest of liberal leaders had created on may 10. ferdinand justified actions stating constitution , other changes had been made cortes assembled in absence , without consent. declared of juntas , constitutions written in spanish america invalid , restored former law codes , political institutions.

this, in effect, constituted definitive break 2 groups have been allies of ferdinand vii: autonomous governments, had not yet declared formal independence, , spanish liberals had created representative government include overseas possessions , seen alternative independence many in new spain (today mexico), central america, caribbean, venezuela, quito (ecuador), peru, upper peru (bolivia) , chile. spanish americans moderates decided wait , see come out of restoration of normalcy. in fact in areas of new spain, central america , quito, governors found expedient leave elected constitutional ayuntamientos in place several years in order prevent conflict local society. liberals on both sides of atlantic, nevertheless, continued conspire bring constitutional monarchy, succeeding in 1820. dramatic example of transatlantic collaboration perhaps francisco javier mina s expedition texas , northern mexico in 1816 , 1817.

spanish americans in royalist areas committed independence had joined guerrilla movements. ferdinand s actions did set areas outside of control of royalist armies on path full independence. governments of these regions, had origins in juntas of 1810—and moderates there had entertained reconciliation crown—now saw need separate spain, if protect reforms had enacted.

restoration of spanish constitution , independence

spanish liberals had success in forcing ferdinand vii restore constitution on january 1, 1820, when rafael riego headed rebellion among troops had been gathered large expeditionary force sent americas. march 7, royal palace in madrid surrounded soldiers under command of general francisco ballesteros, , 3 days later on march 10, besieged ferdinand vii, virtual prisoner, agreed restore constitution.

riego s revolt had 2 significant effects on war in americas. first in military matters, large numbers of reinforcements, needed retake new granada , defend viceroyalty of peru, never arrive. furthermore, royalist situation became more desperate in region after region, army experienced wholesale defections of units patriot side. second in political matters, reinstitution of liberal regime changed terms under spanish government sought engage insurgents. new government naively assumed insurgents fighting spanish liberalism , spanish constitution still basis of reconciliation between 2 sides. government implemented constitution , held elections in overseas provinces, in spain. ordered military commanders begin armistice negotiations insurgents promise participate in restored representative government.

the spanish constitution, turned out, served basis independence in new spain , central america, since in 2 regions coalition of conservative , liberal royalist leaders led establishment of new states. restoration of spanish constitution , representative government enthusiastically welcomed in new spain , central america. elections held, local governments formed , deputies sent cortes. among liberals, however, there fear new regime not last, , among conservatives , church, new liberal government expand reforms , anti-clerical legislation. climate of instability created conditions 2 sides forge alliance. alliance coalesced towards end of 1820 behind agustín de iturbide, colonel in royal army, @ time assigned destroy guerrilla forces led vicente guerrero. instead iturbide entered negotiations, resulted in plan of iguala, establish new spain independent kingdom, ferdinand vii king. treaty of córdoba, highest spanish official in mexico approved plan of iguala, , although spanish government never ratified treaty, did not have resources enforce rejection. ultimately, royal army in mexico brought nation s independence.

central america gained independence along new spain. regional elites supported terms of plan of iguala , orchestrated union of central america mexican empire in 1821. 2 years later following iturbide s downfall, region, exception of chiapas, peacefully seceded mexico in july 1823, establishing federal republic of central america. new state existed seventeen years, centrifugal forces pulling individual provinces apart 1840.

in south america independence spurred pro-independence fighters had held out past half decade. josé de san martín , simón bolívar inadvertently led continental-wide pincer movement southern , northern south america liberated of spanish american nations on continent , secured independence southern cone had more or less experienced since 1810. in south america, royalist soldiers, officers (such andrés de santa cruz) , whole units began desert or defect patriots in large numbers royal army s situation became dire. during end of 1820 in venezuela, after bolívar , pablo morillo concluded cease fire, many units crossed lines knowing spanish control of region not last. situation repeated in peru 1822 1825 republican forces advanced there. unlike in mexico, however, top military , political leadership in these parts of south america came patriot side , not royalists.

the collapse of constitutional regime in spain in 1823 had other implications war in south america. royalist officers, split between liberals , conservatives, fought internecine war among themselves. general pedro antonio olañeta, commander in upper peru, rebelled against liberal viceroy of peru, josé de la serna, in 1823. conflict provided opportunity republican forces under command of bolívar , antonio josé de sucre advance, culminating in battle of ayacucho on december 9, 1824. royal army of upper peru surrendered after olañeta killed on april 2, 1825. former royalists, however, played important part in creation of peru , bolivia. in bolivia, royalists, casimiro olañeta, nephew of general olañeta, gathered in congress , declared country s independence peru. , in peru after bolívar s forces left country in 1827, peruvian leaders undid many of political reforms.