The French army occupied Spain after Napoleon decided to conquer the country in 1808, sparking the Spanish War of Independence. The war ended in 1814 with Spain defeating France with British help. During the war, Spain had two governments - one led by Joseph I (Napoleon's brother) that controlled most of Spain, and another led by Fernando VII that was based in Cádiz. In 1812, the Cádiz government approved Spain's first liberal constitution called the Constitution of Cádiz, influenced by French Revolutionary ideals. When Fernando VII returned to power in 1814, he abolished the constitution and restored the absolute monarchy.

2. Modern Spain part 2

3. What was the Spanish War of Independence?
The French army occupied Spain after
Napoleon decided to conquer the country. On
the 2nd of May 1808 there was a revolt in
Madrid against the French. This was the
beginning of the Spanish War of
Independence. The war ended in 1814.

4. Spain had two
governments. (During
the war )
After the invasion of Spain the
French controlled most of Spain
which caused the government to
split into two.
The French government was headed
by Joseph I (Napoleon´s brother)
The Spanish government was led by
Fernando VII (Carlos IV´s son)

5. Constitution of Cádiz
• In 1812 the Spanish government in Cádiz
approved a new constitution, called the
Constitutuion of Cádiz. It was
influenced by the ideas of the French
Revolution and was Spain´s first liberal
constitution.
• Make a poster about the Constituion of
Cádiz. (pair work)

6. The Constitution of 1812
• Freedom of the press
• Equality for all
• Voting rights for all men over 18
• Freedom of expressions
• Reduction of the power of the
monarchy (a constitutional monarchy)
• National sovereignty

7. The end of the war
• Spain finally defeated the French in
1814 with the help of the British and
Fernando VII returned to power,
however he abolished the Constitution
of Cádiz and restored the absolute
monarchy.

8. What were the Carlist Wars?
• At this time only males could inherit the throne.
FernandoVII had a daughter called Isabel, but he didn´t
have any sons. This meant that his brother Carlos whould be
the next King. However, Fernando VII changed the law so
that Isabel could be queen. He died in 1833, when Isabel
was three years old. Until she was 18, Spain was ruled by her
mother, María Cristina. The question of the succession
caused a series of conflicts called Carlist Wars.

9. Carlist Wars
• The Liberals supported María Cristina and Isabel II. Liberals were people
who supported the ideals of the French Revolution and the Constitution of
Cádiz. They wanted to limit the power of the monarchy and the Catholic
Church, and introduce economic reforms.
• The Carlists wanted Carlos, Fernando VII´s brother, to be king. They were
conservatives: they didn´t want change and they supported an absolute
monarchy and a powerful Catholic Church.
• The First Carlist War began in 1833. It ended with a Liberal victory in 1839.

10. Activity
• There were two more Carlist wars later on in the 19th century.
• Find out about the Second and Third Carlist Wars.
• When did they start and end?
• Who did the Carlists want to be king?
• Where in Spain was the fighting?
• How did each war end?

11. • Make a mind map of the “timeline” from the
French Revolution 1789 to the end of Carlist
Wars.

12. References
• 1789: French Revolution
• 1807: Treaty of Feontainebleau
• 1808: Spanish Independence War
• Joseph I
• Fernando VII
• 1812: Constitution of Cádiz
• 1814: The End of Spanish Independence War
• 1833: Fernando VII died, Carlist War.