Final - November 21 - The Bourbon Reforms and the reception of the Enlightenment in the Americas

Question 1

From Philip V to Charles III: The Bourbon Reforms (Brief Review)

Answer 1

Birth of a new dynasty
War of Spanish Succession 
The Peace of Utrecht settles the War of Spanish Succession, and Philip V is recognized as King of Spain, but forced to renounce to former Spanish territories in Europe and to his dynastic rights to the throne of France
Bourbon Reforms:
Political reforms
Administrative reforms
Economic reforms
Education and religious reforms
Military reforms
Key: The main objective is to recover the Spanish hegemony vis-à-vis France and England through a modernization of the Spanish State and its economy, a centralization of the administration, an increase of the population, and a broadening of the tax base

Question 2

Stable but Unproductive: The Spanish Viceroyalties before the Bourbon Reforms (full slide)

Answer 2

Two main viceroyalties: New Spain and Peru
Viceroyalties acted as semi-autonomous entities
Local elites were able to participate in the higher levels of the administration
Those elites privileged their own interests over those of the Monarchy
Key positions in the administration were “sold” in order to obtain funds
Most economic output was concentrated in silver production and passed through Seville
An unflattering report: Jorge Juan and Antonio de Ulloa’s report Secret News of America (1745)
Widespread corruption
Inefficient use of economic and agricultural resources
Depopulation
Weak defense system
Too much power in the hands of the priests and local elites

Question 3

The Spanish Viceroyalties before the Bourbon Reforms

who were the Two main viceroyalties

Answer 3

New Spain and Peru

Viceroyalties acted as semi-autonomous entities

Question 4

The Spanish Viceroyalties before the Bourbon Reforms

what did the local elites do

Answer 4

Local elites were able to participate in the higher levels of the administration

Those elites privileged their own interests over those of the Monarchy

Question 5

The Spanish Viceroyalties before the Bourbon Reforms: what was done to the key positions

Answer 5

positions in the administration were “sold” in order to obtain funds

Question 6

The Spanish Viceroyalties before the Bourbon Reforms

Most economic output was concentrated where

Answer 6

in silver production and passed through Seville

Question 7

The Spanish Viceroyalties before the Bourbon Reforms

explain An unflattering report: Jorge Juan and Antonio de Ulloa’s report Secret News of America (1745)

Answer 7

Widespread corruption
Inefficient use of economic and agricultural resources
Depopulation
Weak defense system
Too much power in the hands of the priests and local elites

Question 8

Reforming the Empire: Political and Administrative Reform (full slide)

Answer 8

Main Objective: Increasing Centralization/Power of the Monarchy
From ”kingdoms” to (true) “colonies”: A change in perspective
Creation of two new Viceroyalties
Rio de la Plata (approx. today’s Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay)
Nueva Granada (approx. today’s Venezuela, Colombia, Panama)
Creation of a new professional class of colonial officials (normally Peninsular Spaniards loyal to the Crown)

REACTION: This will alienate part of the creoles [American-born Spaniards] who would loose control over local politics

Question 9

Reforming the Empire: Political and Administrative Reform

main objective

Answer 9

Increasing Centralization/Power of the Monarchy

Question 10

Reforming the Empire: Political and Administrative Reform

from kingdoms to what

Answer 10

From ”kingdoms” to (true) “colonies”: A change in perspective

Question 11

Reforming the Empire: Political and Administrative Reform creation of what two new Viceroyalities

Answer 11

Creation of two new Viceroyalties
Rio de la Plata (approx. today’s Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay)
Nueva Granada (approx. today’s Venezuela, Colombia, Panama)

Question 12

Reforming the Empire: Political and Administrative Reform
creation of a new class which was what

Answer 12

Creation of a new professional class of colonial officials (normally Peninsular Spaniards loyal to the Crown)

Question 13

Reforming the Empire: Political and Administrative Reform

reaction

Answer 13

REACTION: This will alienate part of the creoles [American-born Spaniards] who would loose control over local politics

Question 14

Reforming the Empire: Economic Reforms (full slide)

Answer 14

New Mercantilist policies: Spain as a site for industry – America as a source of raw materials
Trans-Atlatic Trade: Multiple cities in Spain were allowed to trade with America
Interior Trade: Some cities in America are allowed to trade among themselves
Silver and Gold: New Mining Techiniques (Silver production peaks in the 18th Century)
Tax Structure: Widening of the tax structure and collection efforts
REACTION: Wealth will increase in Spanish America as a result of this reforms, but the tax increases will be deeply resented by all segments of the population – Creoles will use their newly acquired wealth to push for free-trade with other nations, not only Spain

Question 15

Reforming the Empire: Economic Reforms

new mercantilist policies

Answer 15

Spain as a site for industry – America as a source of raw materials

Question 16

Reforming the Empire: Economic Reforms

trans atlantic trade

Answer 16

Multiple cities in Spain were allowed to trade with America

Question 17

Reforming the Empire: Economic Reforms

interior trade

Answer 17

Some cities in America are allowed to trade among themselves

Question 18

Reforming the Empire: Economic Reforms

silver and gold

Answer 18

New Mining Techiniques (Silver production peaks in the 18th Century)

Question 19

Reforming the Empire: Economic Reforms

tax structure

Answer 19

Widening of the tax structure and collection efforts

Question 20

Reforming the Empire: Economic Reforms

reaction

Answer 20

Wealth will increase in Spanish America as a result of this reforms, but the tax increases will be deeply resented by all segments of the population – Creoles will use their newly acquired wealth to push for free-trade with other nations, not only Spain

Question 21

Reforming the Empire: Agriculture, Cities, and Population Growth (full slide)

Answer 21

The Bourbon Reforms sought – and achieved- an increase in population growth (in order to have a wider tax base)
Introduction of new agricultural techniques and larger states to increase agricultural yields
Attempt at establishing the boundaries of indigenous communities [to better tax them] leads to the creation of the “modern” limits of those communities and a more clearly defined local political structure (resguardos)
Health projects in colonial cities in order to improve the health of the population
(Largely unsuscessful) attempts at controlling racial diversity

REACTION: Fundamental expansion of the slave trade – The interests of large landholders start to collide with those of indigenous communities and subsistence farmers – Agricultural outputs increased

Question 22

Reforming the Empire: Agriculture, Cities, and Population Growth
The Bourbon Reforms sought – and achieved- what

Answer 22

increase in population growth (in order to have a wider tax base)

Question 23

Reforming the Empire: Agriculture, Cities, and Population Growth
agriculture

Answer 23

Introduction of new agricultural techniques and larger states to increase agricultural yields

Question 24

Reforming the Empire: Agriculture, Cities, and Population Growth
attempting to establish the boundaries of indigenous

Answer 24

Attempt at establishing the boundaries of indigenous communities [to better tax them] leads to the creation of the “modern” limits of those communities and a more clearly defined local political structure (resguardos)

Question 25

Reforming the Empire: Agriculture, Cities, and Population Growth
health projects

Answer 25

Health projects in colonial cities in order to improve the health of the population

Question 26

Reforming the Empire: Agriculture, Cities, and Population Growth
attempt to control racial diversity successful?

Answer 26

not really

Question 27

Reforming the Empire: Agriculture, Cities, and Population Growth
reaction

Answer 27

Fundamental expansion of the slave trade – The interests of large landholders start to collide with those of indigenous communities and subsistence farmers – Agricultural outputs increased

Question 28

Reforming the Empire: Defense and Military Power (full slide)

Answer 28

An arms race: the development of the French and English navies lead to the construction of ever larger fortified positions
Creation and modernization of the navy – Establishment of shipyards in the New Worlds – The navy becomes increasingly professionalized and expensive
Local militias and ”peoples of colour”: Establisment of local militia (many of them made of free Blacks and “men of color”) –This offers one of the venues of social mobility for this sector of the population
Expansionism: While it has some setbacks in the 18th Century, Spain is able to consolidate and even expand its dominions in the Americas while England and France lose some of their most important colonies

REACTION: Despite its “success”, the Spanish Empire was clearly overstretched at the end of the 18th Century – This made it extremely vulnerable to attack – Despite the massive investments in the navy it was still behind that of France and England – The empire was too dependant on local militias for defense (the reliance on local militias will be a double-edge sword during the war of independence)

Question 29

Reforming the Empire: Defense and Military Power

explain an arms race

Answer 29

An arms race: the development of the French and English navies lead to the construction of ever larger fortified positions

Question 30

Reforming the Empire: Defense and Military Power

explain modernization of the navy

Answer 30

Creation and modernization of the navy – Establishment of shipyards in the New Worlds – The navy becomes increasingly professionalized and expensive

Question 31

Reforming the Empire: Defense and Military Power

explain local militias

Answer 31

Local militias and ”peoples of colour”: Establisment of local militia (many of them made of free Blacks and “men of color”) –This offers one of the venues of social mobility for this sector of the population

Question 32

Reforming the Empire: Defense and Military Power

explain expansionism

Answer 32

Expansionism: While it has some setbacks in the 18th Century, Spain is able to consolidate and even expand its dominions in the Americas while England and France lose some of their most important colonies

Question 33

Reforming the Empire: Defense and Military Power

explain reaction

Answer 33

REACTION: Despite its “success”, the Spanish Empire was clearly overstretched at the end of the 18th Century – This made it extremely vulnerable to attack – Despite the massive investments in the navy it was still behind that of France and England – The empire was too dependant on local militias for defense (the reliance on local militias will be a double-edge sword during the war of independence)

Question 34

Limiting the Power of the Church: The Expulsion of the Jesuits (full slide)

Answer 34

Catholic religious orders became very wealthy and influential in Colonial Spanish America (Dominicans, Fransciscans, Augustinians, Jesuits…)
By the 18th Century, the Jesuit order had become probably the most influential of all – Control of education through their schools and universities
A State inside the State at the time of Enlightened Despotism: A “multinational” organization who pledged obedience only to the Pope
The Order was suppressed in Spain and its empire in 1767 under the reign of King Charles III (it had been suppressed in Portugal in 1759 and in France in 1764 )
Major impact on the educational system of the Americas – Beginnings of an American “national” consciousness opposed to Spain

Question 35

Limiting the Power of the Church: The Expulsion of the Jesuits
catholic religion

Answer 35

Catholic religious orders became very wealthy and influential in Colonial Spanish America (Dominicans, Fransciscans, Augustinians, Jesuits…)

Question 36

Limiting the Power of the Church: The Expulsion of the Jesuits
a state inside the state

Answer 36

A State inside the State at the time of Enlightened Despotism: A “multinational” organization who pledged obedience only to the Pope

Question 37

Limiting the Power of the Church: The Expulsion of the Jesuits the order was surpassed…

Answer 37

The Order was suppressed in Spain and its empire in 1767 under the reign of King Charles III (it had been suppressed in Portugal in 1759 and in France in 1764 )

Question 38

Limiting the Power of the Church: The Expulsion of the Jesuits major impact on education system

Answer 38

Major impact on the educational system of the Americas – Beginnings of an American “national” consciousness opposed to Spain

Question 39

Pax Hispanica”? (full slide)

Answer 39

Hegemony without a permanent army: Pacts, Legitimacy, and Coercion
Institutionalized Hegemony: the Church (including the Holy Office), Tribunals and bureaucratic structure, the militias
Questioning the Spanish Colonial State: Slave insurrection
Questioning the Spanish Colonial State: Indigenous insurrections
The case of Tupac Amaru II (1738-1781)

Question 40

what is Pax Hispanica

Answer 40

Hegemony without a permanent army: Pacts, Legitimacy, and Coercion

Question 41

Pax Hispanica

explain Institutionalized Hegemony

Answer 41

the Church (including the Holy Office), Tribunals and bureaucratic structure, the militias

Question 42

what is Questioning the Spanish Colonial State

Answer 42

Slave insurrection

Question 43

Questioning the Spanish Colonial State: Indigenous insurrections

Answer 43

The case of Tupac Amaru II (1738-1781)

Question 44

The Criollo Question: Economic Success and Political Resentment? (full slide)

Answer 44

Success? From an economic perspective, the Bourbon Reforms were particularly successful in New Spain (today’s Mexico), Rio de la Plata (today’s Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina), and New Granada (today’s Panamá, Venezuela, Colombia)
Failure? They were less successful in the Viceroyalty of Peru, which was particularly overtaken by New Spain (silver production, mining, agriculture, textiles) and Rio de la Plata (commerce)
Colonialism vs. Liberalism: as their cities prospered, criollos increasingly resented the control of Spain over their economy and political system
The Religious question and National Identity: The expulsion of the Jesuits and the control of the Church were deeply resented in colonial Spanish America by ample sectors of the population that saw it as an attack on their own traditions

Question 45

The Criollo Question: Economic Success and Political Resentment

success?

Answer 45

From an economic perspective, the Bourbon Reforms were particularly successful in New Spain (today’s Mexico), Rio de la Plata (today’s Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina), and New Granada (today’s Panamá, Venezuela, Colombia)

Question 46

The Criollo Question: Economic Success and Political Resentment
failure?

Answer 46

They were less successful in the Viceroyalty of Peru, which was particularly overtaken by New Spain (silver production, mining, agriculture, textiles) and Rio de la Plata (commerce)

Question 47

The Criollo Question: Economic Success and Political Resentment
colonialism vs liberalism

Answer 47

as their cities prospered, criollos increasingly resented the control of Spain over their economy and political system

Question 48

The Criollo Question: Economic Success and Political Resentment the religious question and national identity

Answer 48

The expulsion of the Jesuits and the control of the Church were deeply resented in colonial Spanish America by ample sectors of the population that saw it as an attack on their own traditions