Final answer:
Spain's colonial policy was centered on a mercantilist approach focused on enriching the Spanish crown. Strict trade regulations and control over resources such as silver and gold were enforced, with a strong hierarchical societal structure favoring Spaniards. Challenges in communication and governance, coupled with resistance and self-governance movements, eventually weakened Spain's control over its colonies.
Step-by-step explanation:
Spain’s colonial policy was rooted in the principles of mercantilism and aimed at enriching the Spanish crown through tight control over its colonies. To maximize profits from their American and Filipino possessions, the Spanish government enforced strict trade regulations, allowing the export of raw materials only to Spain while importing Spanish finished goods into the colonies. This was coupled with a monopoly on valuable resources such as silver and gold, and the Crown directly controlled industries such as tobacco.
The Spanish colonial society was highly stratified, with Europeans at the top, and a patriarchal system which kept women and indigenous populations subordinate. Racially and socially, Spaniards saw themselves atop a constructed hierarchy, while Native Americans and Africans actively resisted Spanish dominance. Diseases brought by the Spaniards, particularly smallpox, led to the calamitous decline of the native population.
Despite attempts at governance through appointed officials like viceroys and judges, Spain's hold began to wane as colonists realized they were capable of self-governance, a sentiment that grew especially after the fall of Napoléon. Economic reforms by the Bourbons sought to improve tax collection and trade to benefit the Spanish economy, although these met with resistance and were unpopular. Over time, as communication and governance challenges due to distance strained the colonial relationship, Spain's grip on its American territories weakened, eventually paving the way for independence movements.