The Spanish Colonial System 1493—Pope Alexander VI set the line of demarcation to benefit Spain Treaty of Tordesillas (1494)—divided the world in half between Spain and Portugal Portugal negotiated new line to claim Brazil Spain primary presence in Americas

The Treaty of Tordesillas, 1494 & The Pope’s Line of Demarcation 2

The Spanish Colonial System Crown of Castille Council of the Indies (Seville) Viceroys

Administering the Colonies The monarch and government was based in Madrid Administrators for the Council of the Indies in Seville acted in the interest of Spain, not the Spanish-Americans they governed

During the 16th and 17th centuries, Spain’s New world was divided into two viceroyalties: New Spain (Mexico) and Peru By 1780 in order to establish a more direct control of their colonies, Spain introduced more royal officials and viceroyalties.

Viceroyalties Royal governors (viceroys) were advised chief executives and carried out the laws issued by the Council of the Indies Viceroyalties were divided into audiencias (judicial councils) and corregidores (municipal courts) Most of the officials of Spain’s New World empire were persons born in Spain (peninsulares) All power flowed from Spain Local initiative or self-government scarcely existed

All power flowed from the top of the crown to the bottom Viceroyalties Audiencias Judicial councils corregidores Municipal councils All power flowed from the top of the crown to the bottom

Trade Regulation Only one port authorized for use in American trade--Cadiz Casa de Contración (House of Trade) regulated all trade with New World from Seville, Spain functioned to serve Spanish commercial interests (precious-metal mines) Flota system tried to ensure Spanish economic supremacy Once a year Spanish fleet, protected by Spanish navy, would transport merchandise to ports in America Once goods were unloaded, ships were loaded with gold and silver then sailed back to Spain

Treasures from the Americas! 9

Problems with flota system System worked imperfectly Spanish colonies within the American Empire could not trade directly with each other OR not allowed to build their own shipping Foreign merchants could not breach Spanish monopoly Spanish colonists did not always receive the best price from Spainsmuggling and illegal trade was common Increased gold and silver flowing into Europe from Spanish colonies resulted in a price revolution known as inflation

Colonial Reform under the Spanish Bourbon Monarchs Crown of Spain switches from the Spanish Habsburgs with Bourbons of France Philip V (r. 1700–1714) and successors tried to revive decaying trade monopoly and suppress smuggling Tried to implement French administrative skills to reassert the imperial trade monopoly that Spain once possessed Created new viceroyalty of New Granada to strengthen royal government

Charles III (r. 1759–1788): most important imperial reformer Favored hand-picked royal representatives (intendants) over local councils to enforce tax collection and end bureaucratic corruption improved imperial economy by allowing more Spanish cities to trade with America Ended the monopoly of trade held by Seville and Cadiz Opened more ports in South America and Caribbean 1776, organized a fourth viceroyalty of Rio de la Plata

The Colonial Class System Peninsulares Creoles Mestizos Mulattos Native Indians Black Slaves 13

Class System Peninsulares—persons born in Spain and enter the New World and fill government positions Creoles—persons of European descent born in the New World; second-class subjects Mestizos—persons of mixed European and native Indian birth Mulattos—persons of mixed European and African birth Native Indians—indigenous peoples of land Black Slaves—Africans transported by ocean