The Spanish Empire The Spanish Empire in the New Worldin the New World

Age of the Viceroys Age of the Viceroys

and the Caste Systemand the Caste System

Havana harbor

The age of the Viceroys – Spain’s control over Spanish America lasted over 300 years, beginning in 1492. The mainland territories of the empire in North and South America gained independence during the first two decades of the 19th century, while in the Caribbean, Cuba and Puerto Rico remained under Spanish control until 1898.

The Spanish possessions in the Americas were extensive, from Mexico (including the current southwest of the U.S.), through Central America, to South America. Its territories were much greater than the other major colonial powers in the area (England or Portugal). Communication with Spain could take up to several months. Nevertheless, Spanish control over its colonies was guaranteed by three important institutions: the Viceroy, the armed forces, and the Catholic Church.

The Viceroy was the king’s representative in the New World (the Spanish word is virrey, which means “in place of the king”). The Viceroy governed a Viceroyalty. At the beginning of the colonial period there were two viceroys, in Mexico and Perú. By the 18th century, two more viceroys were appointed for South America (in the regions of modern-day Colombia and Argentina).

Viceregal GovernmentViceregal Government

King

Viceroy

Executive ChurchTreasuryMilitaryJudicial

Regional and Local Levels

Central Authority

Government Organization, Government Organization, continued…continued…

Regional Offices held Regional Offices held by Peninsularesby Peninsulares– Ex. Court of Appeals, Ex. Court of Appeals,

Diocese Diocese

Local Offices held by Local Offices held by CreolesCreoles– Ex. Mayor, Parrish Ex. Mayor, Parrish

Priests Priests

Assisting the viceroys were the armed forces of Spain, the army and the navy. While the Spanish armadas began to lose their power in 17th and 18th centuries (challenged by the powerful English Navy, and by pirates), the soldiers of the viceroy were able to maintain control of Spanish territories until the outbreak of the wars of independence after 1800.

Cathedral (Lima, left); above, a trial of the Inquisition

A third main institution of the Spanish colonial period was the Catholic Church. Its main goal was to insure the conversion of the indigenous peoples to Christianity and the persecution of “heretics” through the Inquisition. The Church, the armed forces, and the Viceroy usually worked together closely to insure the smooth operation of the empire.

Reenactment of Spanish Colonists (New Mexico)

The system of the encomienda was initially established by the Spanish crown and enforced by the Viceroys. Under this system, favored Spanish settlers were given large tracts of land and people to work the fields, mines, and waters nearby. Although the government attempted to abolish the encomienda system by the 18th century, because of the abuse of the natives, some landowners continued to control the lives of families living on their land.

The Caste System

The Spanish colonial period was also marked by a rigid social stratification. The most privileged class were the Spaniards, who held the important government and church posts. The children of the Spanish born in the New World were called creoles. While still a privileged class, the creoles increasingly complained about “newcomers” from Spain and more and more wanted to participate in the governing of the Spanish state in the Americas.

Spanish colonists of New Mexico

(reenactment)

Three mainThree main divisionsdivisions

1. Full Europeans1. Full Europeans

peninsulare or peninsulare or

creolecreole2. Half European/2. Half European/

Half Native Half Native mestizomestizo

3. Half European/3. Half European/Half AfricanHalf African

mulattomulatto

Native, African, Half African/HalfNative, African, Half African/HalfNativeNative

Peninsulares10,000

Creoles650,000

Mestizos1,500,000

Mulattoes, Natives, Africans2,500,000

Mexico, Early 1800sMexico, Early 1800s

MarriageMarriage

Spain: “Better marriage than Spain: “Better marriage than burning” –low percentage burning” –low percentage of illegitimatesof illegitimates

New Spain: “Better to live New Spain: “Better to live with someone than be with someone than be alone”—high percentage of alone”—high percentage of illegitimatesillegitimates

The Castes as a Racial SystemThe Castes as a Racial System

PigmentocracyPigmentocracy

Who determined the caste?Who determined the caste?

People who fit into mixed groups, were well defined by a “pigmentocracy” or a stratification based on the color of the skin

Artistic rendition of the caste system

Castes as a Cultural SystemCastes as a Cultural System

RightsRights The Predominance of mestizos and mestizo The Predominance of mestizos and mestizo

cultureculture

Family of King Charles IV, 1800 ( Goya)

The decadence of Spain in the 18th and 19th centuries – By 1800 the Spanish empire in the Americas was ripe for change. Spain had increasingly come under the influence of France; in 1808 Napoleon invaded Spain and installed his brother (José I) as king (causing dissatisfaction in the Spanish colonies and war in Spain). Moreover, both the American Revolution (1776) and the French Revolution (1789) gave new hope especially to the creoles, who wanted to govern their lands without the interference of Spain.