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

The Spanish Colonial SystemCr

own 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

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

Treasuresfrom the Americas!

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

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

Class System1. Peninsulares—persons born in Spain and

enter the New World and fill government positions

2. Creoles—persons of European descent born in the New World; second-class subjects

3. Mestizos—persons of mixed European and native Indian birth

4. Mulattos—persons of mixed European and African birth

5. Native Indians—indigenous peoples of land

6. Black Slaves—Africans transported by ocean