The restoration and fall of royal government in New Granada, 1815-1820
This thesis studies Spainâs failure to halt the revolution which led to Colombiaâs independence in 1822. After Napoleonâs occupation of the Spanish peninsula in 1808, most of Spainâs South American colonies removed themselves from European control and functioned as sovereign states. The thesis explores, first, the activities of royalists in the Viceroyalty of New Granada during this period. It then turns to events after 1815. In that year, following the defeat of Napoleon, Spainâs restored monarchy despatched a substantial army to Venezuela and New Granada, in an effort to return the viceroyalty to Spanish control. This expedition, while initially successful, failed ignominiously in its task. The thesis examines the reasons for Spainâs defeat, which was more the result of Spanish error than Colombian patriotism. To begin with, Spainâs policies for solving the American problem suffered from several fundamental defects. All attempts at ending the American insurgencies were based on an inadequate understanding of American realities. Moreover, the only policy to which Spain committed itself wholeheartedly, namely military reconquest, was seen by many as merely exacerbating the problem, and was further
Earle, Rebecca
F1201 Latin America (General)
The restoration and fall of royal government in New Granada, 1815-1820. This thesis studies Spainâs failure to halt the revolution which led to Colombiaâs independence in 1822. After Napoleonâs occupation of the Spanish peninsula in 1808, most of Spainâs South American colonies removed themselves from European control and functioned as sovereign states. The thesis explores, first, the activities of royalists in the Viceroyalty of New Granada during this period. It then turns to events after 1815. In that year, following the defeat of Napoleon, Spainâs restored monarchy despatched a substantial army to Venezuela and New Granada, in an effort to return the viceroyalty to Spanish control. This expedition, while initially successful, failed ignominiously in its task. The thesis examines the reasons for Spainâs defeat, which was more the result of Spanish error than Colombian patriotism. To begin with, Spainâs policies for solving the American problem suffered from several fundamental defects. All attempts at ending the American insurgencies were based on an inadequate understanding of American realities. Moreover, the only policy to which Spain committed itself wholeheartedly, namely military reconquest, was seen by many as merely exacerbating the problem, and was further
restoration fall royal_government new study spain failure halt revolution lead colombia independence napoleon occupation spanish peninsula spain south american colony remove european control function sovereign state explores first activity viceroyalty new period turn event year_follow defeat napoleon spain restore monarchy substantial army venezuela new effort return viceroyalty spanish control expedition initially successful fail task examines reason spain defeat spanish error colombian patriotism begin spain policy solve american problem suffer several fundamental defect attempt end american insurgency base inadequate american reality moreover policy spain commit namely military see many merely exacerbate problem