3.4. CONSEQUENCES OF THE FRENCH REV.

AND NAPOLEON
■ Constitutionswereapprovedwhich recognised popularsovereignty and the separation
ofpowers.
■ TheNapoleonic Empire fuelled feelings of nationalismin France and in the countries
acquired by Napoleon.
■ Theprinciples ofequality,libertyand fraternity, which had been at the very heart of the
French Revolution, continued to inspire people.
■ TheFrench Revolutionsaw the abolitionoffeudalismand the privileges of the estates.All men
were now equal beforethe law.
■ During theFrench republic and Napoleon’s rule, agrarian reform cr eatedopportunities for
peasants toimprove their status. Furthermore, the protection of privatepropertypaved the
way for industrialisation.
4.1. FRENCH REVOLUTION INFLUENCE ON SPAIN (1788-1814)
■ The French Revolution caused panic in all the countries of Europe. In Spain, revolutionary
French publications were censored and enlightened reforms were paralyzed.
■ Charles IV, a very unpopular monarch for having delegated the government to an enemy
of the nobility as Godoy, maintained his policy of Pacte de Famille until the execution of
Louis XVI, what caused the declaration of war against France.
■ Once the Terror was over and the Directory was established in France, peace was signed
and the alliance with France was renewed (which would be maintained at first with
Napoleon). That led Spain to a harsh defeat against England in the Battle of Trafalgar
(1805).
4.2. THE NAPOLEONIC INVASION– BACKGROUND
■ When Napoleon came to power, he signed a pact with Godoy against Great Britain:
allowing the French army to enter Spain to invade Portugal, which was an ally of Great
Britain (TREATY OF FONTAINEBLEAU, 1807).
■ Part of the population considered this approach to France as a treason and Godoy's
enlightened reforms were not well regarded by the nobility, who supportedPrince
Fernandoagainst Godoy→ TUM ULT OFARANJUEZ (1808) by which Fernando's supporters
forced dismissal of Godoy and the abdication of Carlos IV in favor of Fernando VII.
■ With French troops in Madrid, Napoleon convinces Carlos IV and Fernando VII to travel to
Bayonne to negotiate an agreement. But there they are forced to cede the throne to him
through the Abdications of Bayonne. The crown passed to José Bonaparte and Spain
became a satellite state of France.
■ Uprising of May 2, 1808→ beginning of the SPANISH WAR OF INDEPENDENCE
(1808-1814)
4.3. THE NAPOLEONIC INVASION – DEVELOPMENT
■ Across Spain, local and provincial defence councils (Juntas deDefensa) formed, with the
aim of resisting the French invasion.
■ Victory in the Battle of Bailén and defeat in the Battle of Ocaña → Guerrilla warfarewas a
key part of their resistance. Napoleon responded by bringing more troops into Spain,
eventually occupying the entire country.
■ TheCentral Council(Junta Suprema Central) changed tactics and allied to Great Britain
and, under the command of General Wellington defeated the French at the Battle of Arapiles
(1812).
■ Thewarendedwith thesigning ofthe TreatyofValençayin1813 a nd Fernando VII was
restored to the throne in 1814.
4.4. THE 1812 CÁDIZ CONSTITUTION
■ The Central Council took refuge in Cádiz. Replaced by the Regency Council, it convened
the CádizCortes in 1812. The deputies in the Cortes represented Spain as a whole.
■ The 1812 Cádiz Constitution established a constitutional monarchy, separated powers,
universalman suffrage, protection of certain rights and libertiesand the abolition of the
Inquisition.