The Philippines in the 19th Century Flashcards
What was the 19th century like?
- Concepts such as Industrialism, Democracy, and Nationalism triggered revolutionary changes in Science, Technology, Economics, and Politics.
- Intellectual decadence prevailed and the government did not listen to the people’s needs.
- The feudalistic abuse and exploitation of the Indios was the socioeconomic structure then, and oppressive racial discriminatory practices were evident.
What was the Social Structure then?
The elite exploited the masses—the Spaniards were masters and the Filipinos were slaves.
The Spaniards exacted taxes and tributes, while the natives performed manual labor.
In the Ranks of Social Structure, the highest class consisted of:
- Spanish officials
- Peninsulares
- Friars
Spaniards born in Spain who had the most important jobs and the smallest population
Peninsulares
Religious members of the Augustinian, Carmelite, Dominican, and Franciscan orders
Friars
In the Ranks of Social Structure, the middle class consisted of:
- Favored pure native Filipinos
- Mestizos
- Creoles/Insulares
Filipinos mixed with European or Chinese ancestry
Mestizos
Europeans born in Spanish colonies
Creoles or Insulares
The lowest class was made up of:
Indios
How was racism prevalent?
The Peninsulares were prioritized and given the highest positions as they were purely Spanish, while the Creoles then the mixed Mestizos followed. The Indios were not cared for in the slightest.
The “Ministry of the Colonies”.
This helped the Spanish officials govern their colonies (ie Philippines). Through this, they exercised executive, legislative, judicial, and religious powers.
Ministro de Ultramar
Where and when was the Ministro de Ultramar established?
Madrid in 1863
He was responsible for all government and religious activities during his term
He issued executive orders and proclamations and supervised disciplinary powers over all officials.
He was commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and supreme authority of Finances until 1784.
Governor General
The hierarchical structure of the Central Government
- Alcaldes mayors (city governors) of alcaldias (provincial governments)
- Alcaldes en ordinario (mayor and vice mayor) of cabildos or ayuntamiento (city governments)
- Gobernadorcillo
- Cabeza de Barangay
- Alferez
- Guardia Civil and Cuadrilleros
Aka city governors, who oversaw the provincial governments (alcaldias)
Alcaldes mayors
