The Bourbon Era

1
The Bourbon Era

• A Change of Dynasty
• The Bourbons Restructure New Spain
• Economic Reforms
• Political Restructuring
• Reform of Administration
• Crisis and Collapse

2
A Change of Dynasty

• El Hechizado (Charles II) and the End of the
  Habsburg Dynasty
• Philip V (Philip of Anjou) (1702-1746) and the
  Bourbon Dynasty
• Commitment to modernize the Spanish system
• Centralist policies of the French Bourbons
• Restore the military
• Modest commercial reforms
• 2 Manila galleons
• Move the official port of trade with the New
  World from Seville to Cadíz
• Suspension of the fleet system
• Ferdinand VI (1746-1759)

3
El Hechizado (Photo)
4
The Bourbons Restructure New Spain

• Charles III (1759-1788)
• Enlightened Absolutist
• The Visitación of José de Galvez
• Five year visitation beginning in 1765
• Two overriding concerns
• The Economy of New Spain
• Defense of the colonys frontiers

5
Economic Reforms

• Comercio Libre
• Monopoly of Veracruz and Acapulco merchants
• Opening of new official ports
• 1764-1765 monopoly of Cadíz broken
• 1790 Casa de Contratación abolished
• Revival of silver mining
• Quicksilver more easily available for miners
• Miners guild
• 3.25 Million pesos in 1700 to 13.5 million in
  1750 to 27 million by 1804
• Mexico produced as much silver as the rest of the
  world
• 1680-1822 Mexico minted 1.5 million pesos in
  silver and 60 million in gold
• Cochineal, Tobacco
• By 1810 New Spain contributed 75 of imperial
  profits

6
Political Restructuring

• Strengthening the Defenses
• The Seven Years War and the loss of Havana and
  Manila
• Strengthening of fortifications in the colonies
  and the establishment of a standing military
  force
• Settlement of Alta California
• The fuero militar and the Latin American military
  tradition
• A separate caste not subject to civil power
• Assault on Criollo vested interests
• The Expulsion of the Jesuits
• Consolidación de Vales Reales

7
Jesuit California (table)
8
Reform of Administration

• Replacement of Alcaldes Mayores and Corregidores
  with Intendants
• Intendants had been used in France to consolidate
  Royal power
• Intendants were well paid by the crown to avoid
  the corruption inherent in the old system
• Control Royal monopolies, collect taxes, oversee
  treasury interests including the suppression of
  smuggling
• Wide authority of Intendants placed them at odds
  with the Viceroys and Audiencias
• Intendant system was not implemented everywhere

9
Bourbon Reforms (map)
10
Crisis Collapse

• The effect of the Bourbon Reforms was to increase
  the revenue to the crown at the expense of the
  colonial elite
• In this regard the reforms were highly successful
• Reforms have been referred to as the Second
  Conquest of America
• Criollo Patriotism
• Criollos vs. Peninsulares
• La Vírgen, St. Thomas, Quetzalcóatl
• The Napoleonic Crisis in Europe
• Charles IV (1792-1808), Manuel de Godoy, Maria
  Luisa
• The Captivity of Ferdinand VII and Joseph
  Bonaparte
• The Napoleonic Crisis in America