What were the Bourbon reforms in Spanish America?

The Bourbon reforms

Las reformas borbónicas

c. 1765–1788. Under Charles III (1759–88) the Crown set out to govern the Americas more tightly and profitably.

Where: Spain, Mexico, Río de la Plata, The Spanish Caribbean, Peru, Colombia, Argentina, Cuba

What happened

Under Charles III (1759–88) the Crown set out to govern the Americas more tightly and profitably. José de Gálvez was sent to New Spain as visitador in 1765 and spent six years inspecting its bureaucracy; his 1771 report, and his years as Minister of the Indies, shaped the programme: new viceroyalties (Río de la Plata, 1776), a frontier command for the north, intendants on the French model (1786) in place of corrupt corregidores, a tobacco monopoly, militias, higher taxes, the expulsion of the Jesuits in 1767 and in 1778 the 'free trade' regulation that let many Spanish and American ports trade directly. Revenue rose, but so did the resentment of creoles who lost offices to peninsulares, and the pressure on labourers that fuelled uprisings. Many historians see the reforms as a cause of independence.

Say it

Los Borbones querían controlar mejor sus colonias y cobrar más impuestos.

The Bourbons wanted to control their colonies better and collect more taxes.

Why it matters

The reforms drew the map of Spanish America that the new republics inherited, and the creole grievance they created is one root of the independence wars.

Connected

• Buenos Aires is founded, twice (1536–11 June 1580)
• Silver and the first global trade (1545–1800)
• The War of the Spanish Succession (1701–1714)
• The War of the Spanish Succession (1701–1714)
• The British take Havana (7 June 1762–1763)
• The British take Havana (7 June 1762–1763)
• Charles III expels the Jesuits (1767)
• Charles III expels the Jesuits (1767)
• The rebellion of Túpac Amaru II (4 November 1780–18 May 1781)
• The rebellion of Túpac Amaru II (4 November 1780–18 May 1781)

• Before: The ñ and the shaping of Spanish spelling
• After: Charles III expels the Jesuits

Sources

1. About the Gálvez Visita — LLILAS Benson Latin American Studies, University of Texas at Austin
2. José de Gálvez — Historical Text Archive
3. Las reformas borbónicas en la Nueva España I (ficha de clase) — Secretaría de Educación Pública (México), Nueva Escuela Mexicana
4. El virreinato del Río de la Plata (Cuadernos Monográficos del Instituto de Historia y Cultura Naval, 40) — Armada Española, Ministerio de Defensa