The revolt of 1820 in Spain, restored the 1812 Constitution and added fuel to the revolutions in Latin America. Three years prior to the President issuing what has become known as the "Monroe Doctrine", the writing was on the wall, Spain was losing her contest with the colonies in Latin America.
1820 was a year of revolutions across Europe, including Spain, Portugal, Russia and Italy all aimed at overthrowing autocratic monarchies and replacing them with constitutional monarchies restrained by a parliament or by law. On of the more successful revolution was that in Spain when Rafael del Riego led a revolt on January 1, 1820 and demanded the return of the 1812 Constitution to Spain. The 1812 Constitution was the first constitution to ever be put into effect in Spain. It was a very liberal, but short-lived constitution establishing universal male suffrage, national sovereignty, freedom of the press, and free enterprise. The Constitution was established on March 1812 by the sovereign assembly in Cádiz after the Peninsular War. The Constitution really had little effect since most of Spain was ruled by the French. The constitution of 1812 lasted only two years before it was abolished by King Ferdinand VII. While the constitution may have had little effect in Spain, it had significant influence on the emerging states of Latin America. Reformers from Mexico, Chile, Peru, Ecuador and all over Latin America were active participants at Cádiz. The Constitution of 1812 included a provision for the creation of local governments for every settlement of 1000 people or more using an indirect election that favored the wealthy benefiting the hereditary aristocracy in the Americas. Plus it introduced a bit of federalism into these Republics opening up a division between them and the central government in Spain. But when King Ferdinand VII, abolished the Constitution that came to an end.
Thus, when Rafael del Riego led the revolt to restore the 1812 Constitution to Spain, it was an event that sent shock waves around the world. On January 1,1820 Riego gathered 20,000 disaffected and underestimated troops in Cádiz and marched through the city of Andalusia, it gave new hope to revolutions in Latin American and in Spain. Following this march, an uprising took place in Galicia and quickly spread throughout all of Spain. By March 7, the royal palace in Madrid was surrounded by soldiers under the command of revolutionary General Francisco Ballesteros. Three days later the King agreed to restore the constitution. Upon this news, President James Monroe delivered a message of hope regarding the "contest between Spain and her colonies". In his State of the Union that year, President Monroe wrote that "reestablishment of the constitution of 1812" was "an event which promises to be favorable to the revolution". As these events unfolded, Monroe stated his belief that none of the powers of Europe would intervene, and soon the colonies of Latin America would be independent.
"The contest between Spain and the colonies, according to the most authentic information, is maintained by the latter with improved success. The unfortunate divisions which were known to exist some time since at Buenos Ayres it is understood still prevail. In no part of South America has Spain made any impression on the colonies, while in many parts, and particularly in Venezuela and New Grenada, the colonies have gained strength and acquired reputation, both for the management of the war in which they have been successful and for the order of the internal administration.In the end, it turned out that Monroe misread the reaction of the European powers. Over the next couple of years, the European monarchies became alarmed at the success of the revolution in Spain. At the Congress of Verona 1822 they approved an intervention of French forces in Spain to support King Ferdinand VII. In 1823, Ferdinand regained control of the general courts at Cádiz, and the Constitution was once again abolished. But, by then damage had already been done, the reinstatement of the Constitution of 1812 added fuel to the fires of revolution in Latin America. And, in 1823 President Monroe took a bold stand against any further attempts of the European monarchies' to interfere with the colonies Latin America.
The late change in the Government of Spain, by the reestablishment of the constitution of 1812, is an event which promises to be favorable to the revolution. Under the authority of the Cortes the Congress of Angostura was invited to open a negotiation for the settlement of differences between the parties, to which it was replied that they would willingly open the negotiation provided the acknowledgment of their independence was made its basis, but not otherwise.
No facts are known to this Government to warrant the belief that any of the powers of Europe will take part in the contest, whence it may be inferred, considering all circumstances which must have weight in producing the result, that an adjustment will finally take place on the basis proposed by the colonies. To promote that result by friendly counsels with other powers, including Spain herself, has been the uniform policy of this Government."
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=29462
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafael_del_Riego
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Constitution_of_1812
The Rise of Constitutional Government in the Iberian Atlantic World: The Impact of the Cádiz Constitution of 1812 by Scott Eastman, Natalia Sobrevilla Perea (2015) pg 246
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/38/Cortes_de_cadiz.jpg
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