SPAIN: THE BOURBON REFORMS AND THEIR LIMITS

THE WAR OF SUCCESSION AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

When Carlos II of Habsburg died without children, there were two pretenders to the throne

the emperor’s son Carlos of Habsburg

Prince Felipe of Bourbon

Several kingdoms within the Hague Alliance declared war on France and on Felipe V

Carlos II chose the Bourbon prince as his heir

Hispanic Monarchy a civil war broke out in 1705 between supporters of the Habsburgs and the Bourbons

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Felipe V had more supporters in the Crown of Castilla

Archduke in the Crown of Aragón, where there were uprisings in his favour.

Peace of Utrecht

1713

European war ended with the signing

Felipe V renounced his claim to the French throne and all commercial and territorial concessions to the Alliance powers

Hispanic Monarchy lost its European territories, in exchange for being recognised as king of Spain and the Indies

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Nueva Planta decrees

1707, 1711 and 1715

to abolish the courts, fueros, diputaciones generales, customs and fiscal systems of the kingdoms of the Crown of Aragón

POLITICAL REFORMS

The Spanish Bourbons imposed a model of absolute monarchy inspired by the French absolutist system

FELIPE V (1683–1746)

Decisions made in the royal court were effective in the monarchy’s territories, Felipe V needed the support of the elites.


FOREIGN POLICY

ECONOMIC REFORMS: TRADE

ECONOMIC REFORMS: CRAFT

validos acting as prime ministers

replaced by cabinets

These were formed by ministers or secretarios de despacho, who were responsible for the main matters of government:

the fueros, laws, institutions, tax regimes and customs of Navarra and the Basque provinces remained

viceroyalties of New Granada and Río de la Plata

Regalist policies

carried out in the Church

‘Family Compacts’

Spanish kings to ally themselves with France

Seven Years’ War (1756–1763)

Treaty of Paris

war ended

confirmed British hegemony in the world, and Spain had to cede Florida to Great Britain

SPANISH POSSESSIONS DURING THE REIGN OF CARLOS III


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BOURBON MONARCHS IN THE 18TH CENTURY

FELIPE V (1724–1746)

FERNANDO VI (1746–1759)

LUIS I (1724)

CARLOS III (1759–1788)

FELIPE V (1700–1724)

CARLOS IV (1788–1808)

Domestic trade

was difficult due to the rugged Spanish terrain

Foreign trade

was more important

in particular with America

Carlos III signed decrees approving free trade in various ports in the Iberian Peninsula and others from Spanish America

liberalisation of the grain trade

1765

Buying and selling these goods was usually regulated as this was essential to avoid famine

cause of popular revolts in 1766

favoured the popular or domestic craft industry, especially the textile industry, and created trade schools

printed cotton fabrics, Barcelona

Hispanic Monarchy set up Royal manufacturers

factories created to make either luxury or basic products

Real Fábrica de Tapices de Santa Bárbara (Madrid)

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