THE SPANISH WAR OF INDEPENDENCE

The French army was occupying Spain. On 2 May 1808 there was a revolt in Madrid against the French. This was the beginning of the Spanish War of Independence. The war ended in 1814.

Scene from Spanish War of Independence, by Goya. By Yelkrokoyade (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.

The Spanish people fought a guerrilla war against the French army. The French army soon controlled most of Spain. Spain had two governments. A French government in Madrid, headed by Napoleon’s brother, Joseph I (Pepe Botella). 

Joseph Bonaparte. Photo by François Gérard [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.

And a Spanish government in Cádiz headed by Fernando VII (Carlos IV’s son).

Fernando VII by Goya. Via Wikimedia Commons.

In 1812 the Spanish government in Cádiz approved a new Constitution, called the Constitution of Cádiz (la Pepa). It was Spain’s first liberal constitution:

• The power of the monarchy was reduced.

• Ordinary people could vote in elections (only men).

• Government was separated into three branches: legislative, executive and judicial.

• Freedom of press was established.

• The Spanish Inquisition was abolished.

Constitution of Cadiz, known as "La Pepa". Photo voa Wikimedia Commons.

Spain defeated the French army in 1814 and Fernando VII returned to power. He abolished the Constitution of Cádiz and restored the absolute monarchy.