The Spanish Empire in the New World

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The Spanish Empire in the New World

• Age of the Viceroys
• and the Caste System

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The age of the Viceroys Spains 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.
Havana harbor
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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.
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The Viceroy was the kings 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).
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Viceregal Government
Central Authority
Regional and Local Levels
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Government Organization, continued

• Regional Offices held by Peninsulares
• Ex. Court of Appeals, Diocese

• Local Offices held by Creoles
• Ex. Mayor, Parrish Priests

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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.
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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.
Cathedral (Lima, left) above, a trial of the
Inquisition
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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.
Reenactment of Spanish Colonists (New Mexico)
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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)
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Three main divisions

• 1. Full Europeans
• peninsulare or
• creole
• 2. Half European/
• Half Native
• mestizo
• 3. Half European/
• Half African
• mulatto
• Native, African, Half African/Half
• Native

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Mexico, Early 1800s
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Marriage

• Spain Better marriage than burning low
  percentage of illegitimates
• New Spain Better to live with someone than be
  alonehigh percentage of illegitimates

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The Castes as a Racial System

• Pigmentocracy
• Who determined the caste?

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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
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Castes as a Cultural System

• Rights
• The Predominance of mestizos and mestizo culture

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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.
Family of King Charles IV, 1800 ( Goya)