The Independence of Spanish America

Front Cover
Cambridge University Press, 1998 M05 13 - 274 pages
This book provides a new interpretation of the process of Spanish American independence (1808-1826); one which emphasizes political processes and cultural continuities, instead of the break with Spain. It is the first book to examine the representative government and popular elections introduced by the Spanish Constitution of 1812. Rodríguez O. argues that independence did not constitute an anti-colonial movement, as many scholars assert, but rather formed part of the broader Spanish political revolution. In America, supporters of the government in Spain struggled with local juntas for control.
 

Contents

Spanish America
7
The Rise of an American Identity
13
The Bourbon Reforms
19
Revolution in the Spanish World
36
The Crisis of the Monarchy
49
The Political Revolution
51
The Elections of 1809 in America
59
In Search of Autonomy
64
Rio de la Plata
123
Charcas Paraguay and Uruguay
130
Chile
136
Quito
144
New Granada
150
New Spain
159
Independence
169
The Conflict in America
174

The Birth of Representative Government
75
The Cortes of Cadiz
82
The First Popular Elections in America
92
The Collapse of Constitutional Government
103
Civil War in America
107
Venezuela
109
The Spanish Constitution Restored
192
Final Emancipation
205
Conclusion
238
Bibliography
247
Index
267
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