The Reign of Ferdinand VII and Colonial Emancipation

The return of Ferdinand VII marked the beginning of a complex period characterized by the struggle between liberalism and absolutism.

Vocabulary: The "Ominous Decade" (Década Ominosa) refers to the final period of Ferdinand VII's absolute rule (1823-1833).

The period was marked by:

• The abolition of the 1812 Constitution
• Liberal persecution
• Economic crisis
• Colonial independence movements

Highlight: The American independence movements resulted in:

• Loss of Spanish colonial empire
• Emergence of new republics
• Economic consequences for Spain
• Rise of criollo leadership in former colonies

War of Independence: Antecedents and Causes

The first phase of the Spanish War of Independence emerged from complex political circumstances involving both domestic and international factors.

Definition: The War of Independence (1808-1813) was a conflict between Spain and Napoleonic France that began with popular uprisings against French occupation.

Highlight: Key events leading to the war included:

• The French Revolution (1789)
• Treaty of Fontainebleau (1807)
• Mutiny of Aranjuez
• Bayonne Abdications

Example: The Battle of Trafalgar marked Spain's loss of naval power, while the Treaty of Fontainebleau allowed French troops to cross Spanish territory.

The war developed in three distinct phases:

1. Initial Spanish successes (May-November 1808)
2. French counteroffensive (November 1808-January 1812)
3. Final allied victory (Spring 1812-December 1813)