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PART II— THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD CHAPTER I THE REVOLT OF SPAIN'S COLONIES The French revolution of 1789 and the success of republicanism in North America were precursors of the revolt of Spain's colonies. The writings of Montes- quieu, Voltaire, Rousseau, and others of that school had taken effect ; France and the two Americas be- came republican. France, having applied the torch, for a time recoiled from the terrible effects of her fierce revolution and Bonaparte became emperor. In triumph he entered the capitals of the old world with his vic- torious armies, but England with her fleets he found invincible to his conquering arms. Portugal was in the alliance with England, so against Portugal Napoleon desired to dispatch an army. His troops he wished to send through Spain, and permission was, therefore, obtained of Manuel Godoi, who stood high in the favor of the queen, Maria Louisa, and in reality governed Spain, rather than the king, Charles IV. At that time Prince Ferdinand, heir to the crown, was conspiring against Godoi, the queen's favorite who had been raised by her from an officer of the guards to the position of prime minister, and was in constant quarrels with his royal parents. It wfis at this time 127