2.The Situation in Europe 1807-1812 In March 1808, French forces occupied Madrid and Napoleon forced the Spanish King to abdicate, detaining him in France. Napoleon then established his brother Joseph Bonaparte as king of Spain and the Indies. There were various demonstrations of Spanish resistance to Joseph Bonaparte's rule, primarily led by juntas assuming provincial power. Local juntas placed themselves under the authority of a Supreme Jnta at Seville which was seen as the legitimate source of Spanish and imperial government. In 1810, the French took control of most of this region. Only Cadiz in the South held out. The Supreme Junta was replaced by the Regency Council. The Regency Council would eventually collapse, but they created an 1812 constitution before doing so. The 1812 Constitution declared equality for all areas of the Spanish empire and called on delegates throughout the Spanish empire to create a constituent assembly. In this assembly, they established a limited monarchy and an elected parliament, called Cortes. They also guaranteed certain individual rights like freedom of press.. However, the government rejected allowing Latin America to become an autonomous constitutional kingdom.

2.The Situation in Europe 1807-1812 In March 1808, French forces occupied Madrid and Napoleon forced the Spanish King to abdicate, detaining him in France. Napoleon then established his brother Joseph Bonaparte as king of Spain and the Indies. There were various demonstrations of Spanish resistance to Joseph Bonaparte's rule, primarily led by juntas assuming provincial power. Local juntas placed themselves under the authority of a Supreme Jnta at Seville which was seen as the legitimate source of Spanish and imperial government. In 1810, the French took control of most of this region. Only Cadiz in the South held out. The Supreme Junta was replaced by the Regency Council. The Regency Council would eventually collapse, but they created an 1812 constitution before doing so. The 1812 Constitution declared equality for all areas of the Spanish empire and called on delegates throughout the Spanish empire to create a constituent assembly. In this assembly, they established a limited monarchy and an elected parliament, called Cortes. They also guaranteed certain individual rights like freedom of press.. However, the government rejected allowing Latin America to become an autonomous constitutional kingdom.