CHANGES IN SETTLEMENT AND ECONOMIES

I. Introduction

What factors contributed to changes in the Spanish colonies during the 18th century?

II. 17th-century Decline of Spain in the International Arena

A. Loss of Caribbean Islands
B. Disruptions of Fleet System
(1650-1700: only 25 fleets to and from New Spain, and 17 to/from Panama/Peru)
C. Declining Silver Revenues
(1620-1650: silver shipped to Spain dropped by 60%)

1. production declines
2. contraband
3. Need to spend more of revenues in America on defense
(Peru 1650-1740: 80% revenues spent locally)

III. Motors of 18th-century Expansion

A. Military Defense–especially circum-Caribbean

B. Population Growth (i.e. increasing labor supply)

1. Causes

a. Increased migration from Spain
b. Increased import of slaves from Africa
c. Recovery of indigenous population
d. Growth of free casta population

2. Examples

a. 2nd half of 18th century: pop growth in Span Am twice ave. rate in Europe
b. Cuba, 1700-1760: population tripled
c. Venezuela, 1780-1800: population doubled

C. Economic Growth

1. Mining recovery in New Spain and Peru
2. New export crops (contraband at first)
3. Bourbon Trading Reforms (especially benefit Atlantic ports)

a. new system of registered shipping: more efficient and increased volume of trade between Spain and colonies
b. “Free Trade” (1778) : opened up more ports within Spanish Empire

IV. From Frontiers to Dynamic Colonies

A. Venezuela/Caracas

1. 17th-century cacao harvested for internal markets and then contraband Dutch
2. 1684-1740: prod of cacao rose tenfold
3. Caracas Company (1728) (merchant monopoly)
4. Land concentration and unequal distribution of wealth

1740s: 400 planters
1800: 160 planters

5. Two competing elites: merchant and planter
6. Caracas gets an audiencia (high court) and archbishopric

B. Cuba/Havana: tobacco and sugar

1. Tobacco

a. Begins growth as contraband
b. 1717: state monopoly
c. By middle of 18th century, Cuba meeting all Spanish demand for tobacco

2. Sugar

a. 1740 est. Havana Company to invest in sugar
b. 1759-89: sugar production tripled

C. Buenos Aires/Rio de la Plata : Commerce

1. For most of colonial period, small settlement
2. Port for contraband silver from Potosi
3. 1776 made official port and capital of new Viceroyalty of Rio de la Plata
4. No major agricultural exports produced in region yet: cattle mostly for internal market
5. Elite of merchants

V. Portuguese Brazil

A. Frontier Society of South (Sao Paulo), 16th and 17th century

1. Farms and ranches for regional market
2. Bandeirantes: slavers and explorers
3. Discovery of gold, 1695

B. Mining Boom, 18th century

1. 1700-1720: production up 5 times
2. 1720-50: steady growth
3. 1750-decline

C. Goldrush Society

1. difficulties of royal control
2. move capital to Rio de Janeiro, 1763

VI. Conclusions: Changing Landscapes

Maps:

Colonial Divisions, circa 1650

Caribbean

Colonial Divisions and Settlements, circa 1780

Questions:

What factors contributed to changes in the Spanish colonies during the 18th century?

How did Bourbon monarchs both react to and attempt to control these changes?

I.D. Terms:

Bourbon Reforms
“Free Trade” (1778)
Caracas Company (1728)
Havana Company (1740)
Caracas
Havana
Buenos Aires
Viceroyalty of Rio de la Plata (est. 1776)
bandeirantes
Sao Paulo
Rio de Janeiro

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