Latin American Wars for Independence

1804-1914

What Caused Discontent in Latin America? By the late 1700s, the revolutionary spirit that gripped

Western Europe had spread to Latin America. There, discontent was rooted in the social, racial and political system that had emerged throughout 300 years of Spanish rule. The Spanish empire was divided into viceroyalties by the late 18th century and by that point there was unrest in each entity.

The resulting racial hierarchy: Peninsulares (born of Spanish parents in Spain)

Creoles (born of Spanish parents in the Americas)

Mesitzos/Mulattoes (mixed European and native/African)

Native Americans (indigenous to area)

Enslaved Africans (imported from West Africa)

Spanish Caste System

PENISULARES had most wealth, education and status

CREOLES resented their second-class status

MESTIZOS/MULATTOES were angry at being denied status/power of

whites

NATIVE AMERICANS suffered economic misery under Spanish

ENSLAVED AFRICANS longed for freedom

The Colonial EconomyWhile silver brought increased revenues to the Spanish crown in royalties, taxes and trade - as well as stimulated the colonies’ commerce – the majority of Spanish America was involved in farming.

Wealthy used poorly paid mestizos, mulattoes or African slaves to work their large plantations

Many Native Americans farmed their communal lands

Agricultural exports rose throughout 1700s and brought wealth to areas that didn’t have gold/silver (Rio de la Plata)

Spanish Colonial Government

King of Spain(absolute power)

Spanish nobles ruled

over Viceroyalities

Creole elites helped govern Viceroyalities

Spanish Viceroyalties

The Catholic Church

Missionaries and priests of the Catholic Church arrived in the Americas with the conquistadores, and the church quickly became the most important institution after the government.

Missionaries converted Native Americas

The church possessed huge wealth in the colonies (owned 50% of real estate in New Spain) – was the largest source of investment capital in the colonies

Provided education and social services

Exerted control over the way people thought and acted (enforced orthodoxy in spiritual/secular issues)

By 1750…The Spanish colonies were prospering

extensive trade with each other and other countries

Spain itself had declined in economic and military power (unsuccessful wars) and needed the colonies (bullion) more than the colonies needed Spain.

Colonial administration was lax, corrupt Most positions (except viceroy) were easily bought by

wealthy Creoles – this brought about a decline in Spain’s influence

Bourbon Reforms

In the 18th century, Spain’s Hapsburg monarchy was replaced by the Bourbons.

They wanted to modernize Spain’s economy, society and political institutions

Jose de Galvez (under rule of Charles III) was sent to Mexico to check on colonies. Found corruption and disorganization, went back to Spain and became head of Council of Indies.

Goal was to exploit the colonies more efficiently to get more money for Spain

Reforms included: appointing regional governors with more executive,

judicial powers Replacing Creole officials with peninsulares Imposed royal monopolies on various products

(tobacco, gunpowder, salt) Direct collection of taxes “free trade under the State’s protection” –

mercantilism

This did not work as well as Spain had hoped because, despite extensive reforms, the Spanish Empire remained a disjointed economy (instead of integration, rivalry was the norm).

Bourbon Reforms- Religious, Military and RacialReligious Reforms Believed that the church’s secular power should be restricted

(education) and that its wealth should be transferred to the Crown or private individuals

Many more clergy were expected to pay taxes than had in the past

Jesuits were forced out of Spanish America (1767) and estates were taken by Crown

Military Reforms relied on colonial militias (couldn’t afford large armies) and so the

local economies bore the brunt of the expense

Militia officers were given same privileges as Spanish military so many local Creole elites were eager for commissions

Problems (resentment over draft, fear that local militias would be used against Spain)

Racial Issues

The Bourbon policies sought to rid the empire of social tension by eliminating major forms of racial discrimination.

Free blacks and mulattoes were allowed in the militias

Some free blacks and mulattoes were allowed to receive an education, marry whites, hold public office and enter priesthood (1795)

New slave law issues designed to improve the conditions of slave life and labor (enacted in 1789, repealed 1794 after Creole resistance)

While new opportunities brought more Spaniards to America, their numbers were not high.

Of 3.2 million whites in Spanish America in 1800, less than 40,000 were peninsulares. Many were closely connected with Creoles and merged together to form a white ruling class.

But Creole resentment and resistance increased toward them. This was a major cause of the move for colonial independence.

Impact of Bourbon Reforms

In terms of raising more revenue for Spain, the Bourbon reforms were successful.

Mexican royal income increased from 3 million pesos in 1712 to 14 million pesos in 1800

But Spanish colonials of all ranks had reason for complaint, especially the Creoles.

they felt like they were victims of a new colonization (a Spanish attack on their trade, office and wealth)

This created a climate of resentment and weakened the Spanish Crown’s authority, which they had been designed to strengthened