Comparing The War Of Spanish Succession And The American Revolution

During the early 18th century, European governments were experiencing significant changes and challenges to the government structure and authority. A crisis in government led in some instances to revolution within the country, and in other instances led to a war with other nations. The differences can be examined by a look at the War of Spanish Succession and the American Revolution. The War of Spanish Succession resulted from a crisis in government when King Charles II died and left no heir. Various relatives from France, Austria, Britain and the Netherlands claimed a right to the throne. French Bourbon King Louis XIV installed his grandson, Philip of Anjou, as the Spanish king in 1700, resulting in the other claimants starting a war

with France and Philip in 1702 over the Spanish kingdom for the next twelve years. In contrast, the American colonists sought independence from the British following a series of the imposition of new taxes and restrictions on society by the British King and Parliament. The American colonists in the 1770’s wanted a completely new, separate and independent government. Each situation presented a crisis in government. The differences are in the approaches to address the crisis and the overall goals in creating a new government.
King Charles II of Spain died in October of 1700.

He had no children or other close relatives to succeed him as ruler of Spain. With the succession unresolved, on November 16, 1700, King Louis XIV of France declared his grandson, Phillip the Duke of Anjou, to be the new King of Spain. England and the Dutch failed to recognize Phillip as the Spanish king. Two years later, England, the emperor of Austria, Leopold I, and the Dutch Republic declared war on France and Duke Anjou to dispute his rightful claim, and to lay claim for themselves to the Spanish kingdom. Leopold I sought to establish his younger son, Archduke Charles, on the Spanish throne, claiming his right as a relative of the Habsburg family through his mother. Philip also has a connection to the Habsburg family through his grandmother. Both laid claims to the Spanish throne on this basis. The Spaniards, wanted the King to reside in Spain, and attempts to govern Spain from afar would result in revolution. Many Spanish nobles accepted Philip and his claim, believing that Louis XIV would protect Spain with his grandson as

King.
Louis XIV and William of England, looking to avoid war, attempted a negotiated partition option prior to Charles’ death, but this agreement required an agreement from Emperor Leopold I, and would include territories extending into Italy and other regions of the Austrian Empire. Leopold was unwilling to give up his son’s claim to the Spanish throne and remove Hapsburgs from Italy. There is also no indication that the Spanish would accept such a partition. With a possible war either way, Louis named his grandson as King.
England and the Dutch Netherlands refused to recognize Philip as the new Spanish King.

Louis and Philip sought to gain favor with the Spaniards, and began making cooperation agreements. They took steps to remove English and Dutch merchant from lucrative Spanish interests, and replace them with French merchants. French threats to English and Dutch economic and territorial interests, including within the Netherlands, led to further conflicts over Spanish interests. England sought to secure its trade interests with Spain and prevent French intrusion into the Netherlands. William also sought some assistance for Leopold regarding Italy, which was under French rule at the time. Negotiations about these issues never resulted in any agreement, and England went to war in support of the Austrian

Emperor.
The collection of Spanish regions waited while the French, English, Dutch and Austrian leaders fought over who had the rightful claim to the Spanish throne. These regions had some independent local governments, subject to the King’s authority. Some regions supported the Bourbon King Phillip, and others supported the Austrian Duke Charles. Catalonia, with its port of Barcelona and international trade, supported the Austrian empire, and fought against Philip and the Bourbons. Three other regions also supported Charles, but the dispute was over what was best for Spain and its colonies, not for independence. The Spanish did not want their country divided, as career opportunities for the elite as well as economic trade opportunities for the merchants would diminish if the country was partitioned. What the elite of Spain really wanted from Philip was the continuation of the political system that favored the nobility and the convocation of the Cortes of Castile and Aragon.
When the Austrian Emperor Joseph died in 1711, and Charles became the Emperor of the Austrian Empire, the War for Spanish Succession came to an end. Neither Charles nor Philip could rule Spain from afar, and the English decided to withdraw. Negotiations to end the war resulted in the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713. Philip gained complete control by seizing control of Barcelona in 1714, thus securing his place on the throne and becoming Felipe V. Spain would remain under a Bourbon monarch until its Independence nearly 100 years later.