Download presentation
Presentation is loading. Please wait.
1
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
2
The Treaty of Tordesillas, 1494 & The Pope’s Line of Demarcation
2
3
The Spanish Colonial System
Crown of Castille Council of the Indies (Seville) Viceroys
4
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
5
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.
6
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
7
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
8
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
9
Treasures from the Americas!
9
10
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 Spainsmuggling and illegal trade was common Increased gold and silver flowing into Europe from Spanish colonies resulted in a price revolution known as inflation
11
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
12
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
13
The Colonial Class System
Peninsulares Creoles Mestizos Mulattos Native Indians Black Slaves 13
14
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
Similar presentations
