Cadiz Constitution of 1812

The Cadiz Constitution of 1812

• Spain faced a crisis because France conquered it
• Napoleon Bonaparte of France overthrew King Ferdinand VII of Spain in 1808
• The Spanish fought the French called Guerra de la Independencia (War for Independence)
• The fighting lasted until Spain regained their freedom and King Ferdinand VII returned in 1814
• The Cortes of Cadiz drafted the Cadiz Constitution, the first parliament and Constitution in Spain
• The Constitution was influenced by Enlightenment ideas of equality
• King Ferdinand VII opposed the Constitution, so it was not fully enforced initially
• It was implemented from 1820-1823 and 1836-1837

Provisions of the Cadiz Constitution

• The state has sovereignty, with the power to make its own laws
• The Cortes and the king are the lawmaking bodies of Spain
• Equality declared between Spaniards from Spain and those in Spanish colonies
• All male Spaniards can vote
• People have freedom of speech, expression, and business
• Catholicism declared the official religion, and other religions were prohibited

Impact of the Cadiz Constitution

• The Cadiz Constitution had an important role in Philippine history despite its limited implementation
• Filipinos such as Pedro Perez de Tagle and Jose Manuel Coretto were invited to the Cortes in Madrid
• Filipinos became aware of the Constitution when it was implemented in the Philippines
• Filipinos became aware of Spanish abuses and began to assert their rights because of the constitution
• Events in the 18th and early 19th centuries affected the development of national consciousness

Decline of Mercantilism

• Mercantilism was prevalent in Europe from the 1500s to 1700s
• Mercantilism coincided with Europeans seeking colonies
• Mercantilism states that a nation's power and wealth are based on precious metals like gold and silver
• Europeans explored other lands to add to their gold and silver reserves
• The Spanish conquered the Philippines to exploit its natural resources
• Mercantilism gradually declined in the late 18th century
• Free trade and business enterprise by private individuals eventually replaced mercantilism

Impact of the Decline of Mercantilism in the Philippines

• The Philippines was opened to international trade in 1834
• Foreigners were allowed to set up businesses in the Philippines
• Filipinos participated in businesses and their lives improved
• A new middle class emerged, from which the "ilustrados" would later come

Age of Enlightenment in Europe

• Also known as La Ilustracion, it occurred from the mid-1600s until 1815
• Intellectuals, used reason to explain human behavior
• Changes from these beliefs affected the thinking of European nations and their colonies

Key Intellectuals and Their Beliefs

• John Locke (British): Government legitimacy comes from the consent of the governed; citizens can remove the government if it doesn't protect them
• Baron de Montesquieu (French): Emphasized separation of powers to prevent abuse of power
• Voltaire: Advocated for freedom of speech and the press
• Rene Descartes: Believed self-knowledge is fundamental "I think, therefore I am"
• Jean Jacques Rousseau (French): Declared citizens have the right to govern; rulers must obey the will of the citizens
• Cesaria Becarria: Condemned the death penalty in "On Crimes and Punishments"
• Mary Wollstonecraft (British): Championed women's right to education and political participation
• Adam Smith: Introduced new economic concepts in "Wealth of Nations"

Influence of the Age of Enlightenment

• Liberal ideas from the Enlightenment influenced the American and French Revolutions
• Filipinos became aware of their condition and sought freedom from hardship
• European intellectuals inspired the French and American Revolutions
• Locke, Rousseau, and other intellectuals' ideas reached the Philippines through books
• The Philippines was opened to foreign trade
• Filipino ilustrados studying in Spain and Europe were inspired by the ideals of liberty, fraternity, and equality

End of the Galleon Trade

• Lasted for 250 years, was the only way to trade among the Philippines, Mexico, and Spain
• Ended in 1815 when the Magallanes, the last galleon, departed Acapulco for Manila and didn't return
• About 110 galleons had sailed from 1565 to 1815
• The Philippines was opened to the global market
• The economic situation improved, especially in trade and business
• Trade increased with the United States and Great Britain
• Chinese merchants expanded their participation in commerce, trade, and lending
• Many Filipinos prospered and acquired properties and mestizos appeared
• More trade opportunities opened up after the Galleon Trade ended
• Even more trade opportunities appeared when the Suez Canal opened in 1869

Opening of the Suez Canal

• Opened in 1869 and was an important event in trade and sea expeditions
• A man-made waterway connecting the Red and Mediterranean Seas
• The travel of ships to Europe from Asia was made faster, avoiding the need to travel around Africa
• Shorter voyage times meant more Filipinos could travel to Europe and study abroad
• Products, including books with liberal ideas, were transported more easily to the Philippines
• Filipinos became aware of Spanish abuses and aspired for reforms after reading liberal publications

Impact of Global Events on the Philippines

• Global events in Spain and Europe affected Filipinos
• The Cadiz Constitution showed the possibility of non-abusive governance
• Spain could give Filipinos the same rights as Spaniards
• Changes in the economy and society occurred with the end of mercantilism and the Galleon Trade
• The Philippines opened to foreign trade, improving the lives of many Filipinos
• This led to the rise of the ilustrados

The Ilustrados and the Propaganda Movement

• Sons of the ilustrados became proponents of reforms in Philippine history
• Liberal ideas from Europe shaped nationalistic sentiments
• It greatly influenced the struggles of Filipinos from 1872 to 1898, including the Propaganda Movement, Katipunan, and Philippine Revolution
• The Propaganda Movement was the first Filipino nationalist movement
  • It was led by ilustrados, inspired by European intellectuals
• It targeted the Spanish government and the public -But failed to engage with the wider Filipino population
• Propagandists were young men whose families sent them to study at Spanish universities
• There, they encountered 19th-century political movements inspired by Enlightenment thought

Famous Propagandists

• Jose Rizal
• The leader of the Propaganda Movement -Wrote Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo -Studied medicine in Madrid -Executed in Bagumbayan, now Luneta Park
• Marcelo H. del Pilar
• One of the leaders of the Propaganda Movement
• Editor-in-chief of Solidaridad -Finished his law course in UST -Died due to tuberculosis in Barcelona
• Mariano Ponce
• One of the leaders of the Propaganda Movement
• Co-founder of La Solidaridad
• Friend of Rizal, entrusted with distribution of Noli Me Tangere

The Start of the Philippine Revolution

• Many writers used pseudonyms in La Solidaridad to avoid persecution for advocating change in the Spanish colony
• A poor man named Andres, an avid reader, read Rizal's writings, the Bible, and the History of the French Revolution
• When he learned of Rizal's arrest, he decided to establish the KKK in 1892 to achieve independence

Katipunan (KKK)

• Full name: Kataas-taasang Kagalang-galangang Katipunan ng mga anak ng Bayan (The Supreme and Honorable Society of the Children of the Nation)
• Led by Filipino revolutionaries seeking independence from Spanish colonial rule
• Aimed to unite Filipinos against Spanish rule, fostering nationalism, solidarity, and resistance
• On November 10-11, 1896, the Katipunan fought against the Spaniards in Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Importance of the Battle of Binakayan

• The Battle of Binakayan showed that the Filipinos were capable of defeating the Spanish forces
• It inspired other revolutionary movements across the country to continue their fight for freedom
• The victory at Binakayan strengthened the resolve of the revolutionaries
• The victory paved the way for the declaration of Philippine independence on June 12, 1898
• It was the first major victory of the Filipino revolutionaries against colonial forces

Independence day

• Emilio Aguinaldo declared Philippine independence from Spanish rule on June 12, 1898, in Kawit, Cavite
• The Philippine national flag was unfurled for the first time, symbolizing the country's sovereignty