Spain's Thoughts on Vienna

Spain would have been both for and against the measures agreed upon at the congress of Vienna. They would have been for the fact that their borders were being restored and that they were no longer under the control of France. They would have also been for the restoration of the monarchy. However, they would not have been very much in favor of the fact that they recieved no additional rights/territories/wealth as a result of the Congress.

Spain On Austria

Spain did not really have much power during the Congress of Vienna and were angry towards the other countries for that. Austria would also not intervene in the problems between France and Spain in which Spain did not succeed. Spain did not think highly of Metternich and Austria during this time

Austria On Spain

Austria would have seen Spain as a weakening empire, with very little influence anymore. They wanted Spain to go independent and to rebuild themselves after Napoleons invasion. Spains economy was cripppled and they needed to rebuild and strengthen themselves. Austria would not really regard Spain as a power anymore though.

Napoleonic era

Napoleon went to spain to attempt to become king of spain. When he tried this a great revolt happened in 1808. The revolts were lead by catholics, monarchists, and patriots. Then when the french armies occupied madrid the revolters fled from the city. The events that happened in Spain gave a warning that resistance to france's imperialism was growing.Britain remained in war with france and helped the revolters in Spain. As a result the continental system was organized. Napoleon's plan was a failure.

Congress of Vienna's Effect on Spain

Spain was not involved in the Congress of Vienna. They were not considered to have aided in the fight against Napoleon's invasion. The Spanish people were not taken over by Napoleon because they successfully led a revolt against him when he had tried to take Spain over. Therefore, Spain was not included in negotiations to gain land.

Social Impact

Spain was greatly changed through their overseas exploration. Although they had withdrawn from European affairs, they did not relinquish their control of colonies in the Americas. Controlling areas primarily in South America, Spain controlled much of the sugar and gold trade. The native people were usually forced under a kind of enslavement by the ruling Spanish. However, often times natives and the ruling Spanish would intermarry, producing Mestizo children. Two new social classes were created by the Spanish conquest of the Americas. One was the aformentioned Mestizos and the other was the higher level Creoles, who were people of purely Spanish descent born in America.

Spanish Mercantalism

Spain prospered under the new form of economy called mercantalism. They also did well due to their strong alliance with France due to their relationship in the monarchy. Spain's colonies also helped strengthen spains economy with the slave trade and the gold and silver mined in their colonies. Mercantalism was one of the ideas spread by the enlightenment thinker Adam Smith, and became widely used all over Europe