Final - November 21 - The Bourbon Reforms and the reception of the Enlightenment in the Americas Flashcards
From Philip V to Charles III: The Bourbon Reforms (Brief Review)
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
Stable but Unproductive: The Spanish Viceroyalties before the Bourbon Reforms (full slide)
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
The Spanish Viceroyalties before the Bourbon Reforms
who were the Two main viceroyalties
New Spain and Peru
Viceroyalties acted as semi-autonomous entities
The Spanish Viceroyalties before the Bourbon Reforms
what did the local elites do
Local elites were able to participate in the higher levels of the administration
Those elites privileged their own interests over those of the Monarchy
The Spanish Viceroyalties before the Bourbon Reforms: what was done to the key positions
positions in the administration were “sold” in order to obtain funds
The Spanish Viceroyalties before the Bourbon Reforms
Most economic output was concentrated where
in silver production and passed through Seville
The Spanish Viceroyalties before the Bourbon Reforms
explain 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
Reforming the Empire: Political and Administrative Reform (full slide)
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
Reforming the Empire: Political and Administrative Reform
main objective
Increasing Centralization/Power of the Monarchy
Reforming the Empire: Political and Administrative Reform
from kingdoms to what
From ”kingdoms” to (true) “colonies”: A change in perspective
Reforming the Empire: Political and Administrative Reform creation of what two new Viceroyalities
Creation of two new Viceroyalties
Rio de la Plata (approx. today’s Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay)
Nueva Granada (approx. today’s Venezuela, Colombia, Panama)
Reforming the Empire: Political and Administrative Reform creation of a new class which was what
Creation of a new professional class of colonial officials (normally Peninsular Spaniards loyal to the Crown)
Reforming the Empire: Political and Administrative Reform
reaction
REACTION: This will alienate part of the creoles [American-born Spaniards] who would loose control over local politics
Reforming the Empire: Economic Reforms (full slide)
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
Reforming the Empire: Economic Reforms
new mercantilist policies
Spain as a site for industry – America as a source of raw materials
Reforming the Empire: Economic Reforms
trans atlantic trade
Multiple cities in Spain were allowed to trade with America
Reforming the Empire: Economic Reforms
interior trade
Some cities in America are allowed to trade among themselves
Reforming the Empire: Economic Reforms
silver and gold
New Mining Techiniques (Silver production peaks in the 18th Century)
Reforming the Empire: Economic Reforms
tax structure
Widening of the tax structure and collection efforts
Reforming the Empire: Economic Reforms
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
Reforming the Empire: Agriculture, Cities, and Population Growth (full slide)
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
Reforming the Empire: Agriculture, Cities, and Population Growth
The Bourbon Reforms sought – and achieved- what
increase in population growth (in order to have a wider tax base)
Reforming the Empire: Agriculture, Cities, and Population Growth
agriculture
Introduction of new agricultural techniques and larger states to increase agricultural yields
Reforming the Empire: Agriculture, Cities, and Population Growth
attempting to establish the boundaries of indigenous
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)
Reforming the Empire: Agriculture, Cities, and Population Growth
health projects
Health projects in colonial cities in order to improve the health of the population
Reforming the Empire: Agriculture, Cities, and Population Growth
attempt to control racial diversity successful?
not really
Reforming the Empire: Agriculture, Cities, and Population Growth
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
Reforming the Empire: Defense and Military Power (full slide)
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)
Reforming the Empire: Defense and Military Power
explain an arms race
An arms race: the development of the French and English navies lead to the construction of ever larger fortified positions
Reforming the Empire: Defense and Military Power
explain modernization of the navy
Creation and modernization of the navy – Establishment of shipyards in the New Worlds – The navy becomes increasingly professionalized and expensive
Reforming the Empire: Defense and Military Power
explain local militias
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
Reforming the Empire: Defense and Military Power
explain expansionism
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
Reforming the Empire: Defense and Military Power
explain reaction
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)
Limiting the Power of the Church: The Expulsion of the Jesuits (full slide)
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
Limiting the Power of the Church: The Expulsion of the Jesuits
catholic religion
Catholic religious orders became very wealthy and influential in Colonial Spanish America (Dominicans, Fransciscans, Augustinians, Jesuits…)
Limiting the Power of the Church: The Expulsion of the Jesuits
a state inside the state
A State inside the State at the time of Enlightened Despotism: A “multinational” organization who pledged obedience only to the Pope
Limiting the Power of the Church: The Expulsion of the Jesuits the order was surpassed…
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 )
Limiting the Power of the Church: The Expulsion of the Jesuits major impact on education system
Major impact on the educational system of the Americas – Beginnings of an American “national” consciousness opposed to Spain
Pax Hispanica”? (full slide)
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)
what is Pax Hispanica
Hegemony without a permanent army: Pacts, Legitimacy, and Coercion
Pax Hispanica
explain Institutionalized Hegemony
the Church (including the Holy Office), Tribunals and bureaucratic structure, the militias
what is Questioning the Spanish Colonial State
Slave insurrection
Questioning the Spanish Colonial State: Indigenous insurrections
The case of Tupac Amaru II (1738-1781)
The Criollo Question: Economic Success and Political Resentment? (full slide)
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
The Criollo Question: Economic Success and Political Resentment
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)
The Criollo Question: Economic Success and Political Resentment
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)
The Criollo Question: Economic Success and Political Resentment
colonialism vs liberalism
as their cities prospered, criollos increasingly resented the control of Spain over their economy and political system
The Criollo Question: Economic Success and Political Resentment 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
