Spanish Colonial System

HISTORY OF POLITICS AND GOVERNMENTPrepared by: Alladin I. DalivaYear & Section : 1 – D2Course & Major: BSEd EnglishSubject: Social Science 1Instructor: Jose Angel D. ZaballaDate: August 2013

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REASONS FOR COLONIZATION:THE 3G:

GOD The Conversion of Natives to

Christianity GOLD

Accumulation of Gold or Wealth GLORY

Supremacy of Spain over Portugal as a Superpower

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SPANISH COLONIZATION The Philippine was not formally

organized as a Spanish colony until 1565 when Philip II appointed Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, the first Governor-General.

Legazpi selected Manila for the capital of the colony in 1572 because of its fine natural harbor and the rich lands surrounding the city.

The colonization brought great changes in the political, economic, and cultural life of the people.

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COLONIAL ADMINISTRATION• For almost 333 years, the Philippines was

a crown colony of Spain. Until 1821, the Mexicans revolted and won independence from Spain, the Philippines was a dependency of Mexico, being administered by the viceroy in the name of the King.

• From 1821 – 1898, the country was a distinct government in Madrid. The King issued cedulas for the administration of the colony and appointed a governor, member of the royal audiencia and other high officials.

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THE FLOW OF SPANISH GOVERNANCE • Since Spain was far from the country, the

Spanish king ruled the Islands through the viceroy of Mexico, which was another Spanish colony.

KING OF SPAIN

VICEROY OF MEXICO

PHILIPPINES

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THE FLOW OF SPANISH GOVERNANCE

• When Mexico regained its freedom in 1821, the Spanish king ruled the Philippines through a Governor General.

KING OF SPAIN

GOVERNOR GENERAL

PHILIPPINES

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THE POLITICAL STRUCTURESpain established a centralized

colonial government in the Philippines that was composed of National Government which maintained peace and order, collected taxes, built schools & other Pubic Works,

and Local Government includes Provincial, Municipal, and City Governments.

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GOVERNOR – GENERALThe king’s representative and the highest-

ranking official in the Philippines.He must be a Peninsulares or a Spaniard

born in Spain.

Philippine’s first Governor-General

GOVERNOR – GENERALPOWER AND DUTIES:• As chief executive, he enforced the king’s

royal decrees and other laws from Spain.• Had the power to appoint and dismiss

public officials, except those personally appointed by the King.

• Supervised all government offices and the collection of taxes.

• Exercised certain legislative powers• Issued proclamations to facilitate the

implementations of laws.Alladin I. Daliva

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GOVERNOR – GENERAL• The Governor-General and other

government officials had so much power that it was commonly abused.To investigate the abuses, there were

bodies created: Residencia Visitador Royal Audiencia

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THE RESIDENCIA• This was a special judicial court

that investigates the performance of a Governor General who was about to be replaced.

The Residencia, of which incoming Governor-General was usually a member, submitted a report of his findings to the King.RESIDENCIA

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THE VISITADOR• The Council of the Indies in Spain

sent a government official called Visitador General to observe conditions in the colony.

The Visitador reports his findings directly to the King.

VISITADOR

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THE ROYAL AUDIENCIA

• Served as an advisory body to the Governor-General.

• Had the power to check and report on a Governor-General or other official’s abuses.

• The Audiencia also audited the expenditures of the colonial government.

• Sends a yearly report to Spain.

The highest court in the land.

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THE ROYAL AUDIENCIA• Despite all these checks,

however, an abusive governor-general often managed to escape stiff fines, suspension, or dismissal by simply bribing the Visitador and other investigators.

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THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT• For administrative purposes, the

Philippines was divided into provinces, which are classified into:

ALCALDIA CORREGIMIENTOProvinces that were civil

and fully subjugated (under a Spanish control

already).

Provinces that were not yet entirely under Spanish

control

governed by an Alcalde Mayor.

governed by a Corregidor,

usually an army officer.

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THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT

1. He represents the Spanish King and the Governor-General.

2. He manages the day-to-day operations of the provincial government.

3. Implements laws and supervised the collection taxes.

Though Alcalde Mayor and Corregidor were paid small salary, they enjoyed priveleges such as the Indulto De Comercio or the right to participate in the Galleon Trade.

DUTIES OF AN ALCALDE MAYOR:

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THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT• Each province was divided into several towns

or pueblos headed by Gobernadorcillos (Little Governor).

MAIN DUTIES: Efficient governance and tax collection.

Other town officials besides the gobernadorcillo were the :

• Teniente Mayor (Chief Lieutenant)• Juez de Sementeras (Justice of the Fields)• Juez de Ganados (Justice of Cattle)• Juez de Policia (Justice of Police) • Directorcillo (Municipal Secretary)

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THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT

Gobernadorcillos had small salaries but were exempted from paying taxes.

QUALIFICATIONS:• Any Native or Chinese Meztizo• 25 years of age• Literate in Oral or Written Spanish• Cabeza de Baranggay for 4 years

Example: Emilio Aguinaldo

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THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT

• Towns or pueblos were divided into barangays (barrios), each under a Cabeza de Barangay (Barrio Administrator or Baranggay Captain).

• Responsible for the peace and order of the barrio

• Recruited men for public works

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THE BARANGGAYS or BARRIOSCabeza de Baranggay QUALIFICATIONS:• Should be literate in Spanish• Has a good moral character and a

propertyCabezas who served for 25 years were exempted

from forced labor.

Like the gobernadorcillo, the cabeza served anually, without salary.

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THE CITY GOVERNMENT

• Larger towns became cities called Ayuntamiento.

• Became the center of trade and industry.• The Ayuntamiento had a city council

called Cabildo, which is composed of:Alcalde (Mayor)

Regidores (Councilors)

Alguacil Mayor (Police Chief)

Escribano (Secretary)

THE COLONIAL GOVERNMENT

THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH(Governor General)

THE JUDICIAL BRANCH(Royal Audiencia, Residencia,

Lower Courts, Governor-General)

PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT(Pueblo/Towns )

CITY GOVERNMENTAYUNTAMIENTO

(Cabildo)

BARRIOS(Cabeza de Baranggay)

BARRIOS(Cabeza de Baranggay)

CABILDO(City Council)

ALCALDEREGIDORESALGUACIL MAYORESCRIBANO

OTHER OFFICIALSTeniente Mayor

Juez de Sementeras Juez de Ganados Juez de Policia

Directorcillo

ALCALDIACivil

(Alcalde Mayor)

CORREGIMIENTOMilitary

(Corregidor)

Gobernadorcillo (Petty Governor)

KING OF SPAIN

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