Spanish revolution the new French Revolution

[ronaldo]

Spanish revolution instead of French Revolution

Spanish revolution instead of French Revolution

How can a revolution happen in Spain?
What would be the effects in Europe and its colonies,

A unified Spanish empire?
The rise of a Spanish Napoleon?
Effects in the united states
Long-term effects in Latin America?

would the Scramble for Africa?

British India?

World Wars and Cold War?

 

[Matteo]

It can't happen because a social-political revolution, be it such as the english ones In the 17th century or such as the french one, requires specific conditions that did not exist in France. Among these conditions are a certain level of literacy, urbanization, an independant public opinion that can express itself, a significant level of secularism, ... etc.

And these conditions did not exist in Spain by the late 18th century.

 

[Kurt_Steiner]

So, for that to happen, you need to go way back in time. The closest Spanish event to the French revolution would be the Motín de Esquilache, in 1766. Why did it go in a different direction? Because there was no Spanish bourgesoie with a class conscience to lead it. Also, there was a complete lack of coordination among the different "revolutionary movements".

 

[Towelie]

To have that kind of revolution, you need a frustrated politically impotent but economically significant rising middle class, along with a suffering peasantry that will support a political movement of that sort.

Spain had a suffering peasantry, but they were not suffering anymore in the late 18th century than they had for the last few hundred years after the economic issues caused by the New World silver glut and the vacuum left by the expulsions of the Jews and Moriscos. Spain did not however have a significant middle class, nor was there much demand for political reform, and later attempts to force the growth of a middle class and political reform under Napoleon left the whole concept with a bad taste in the mouth for Spain. Keep in mind that the idea of liberal reforms and revolution for much of the 19th century were tied up with the idea of French control over Spain and the excesses of French brutality during the occupation. To be ardently Conservative was to be ardently Nationalistic and Patriotic.

Also, the power of the Church even in the late 18th century was not to be underestimated, and by and large, the Spanish lower classes would defend the church to the death from attempts to control it by some kind of political revolution.