Question

Under the intendancy system, what did the Bourbon kings in Spain do?

a) Abolish taxation
b) Implement decentralized governance
c) Strengthen central control
d) Encourage regional autonomy

Answer 1

The Bourbon kings in Spain utilized the intendancy system to strengthen central control over their colonies, with administration increasingly handled by peninsulares. This centralized management resulted in industrial and economic progress, but also sowed seeds of discontent among the creole elite, due to their exclusion from high-ranking positions and political power.

Step-by-step explanation:

Under the intendancy system, the Bourbon kings in Spain aimed to strengthen central control over their colonial government. Administrative power was consolidated in the hands of governors known as intendentes, who were appointed by and reported directly to the Spanish monarch. These intendentes were usually peninsulares, born in Spain, distinguishing them from the creoles who were European-descended residents born in the colonies. The centralization effort was intended to reduce corruption and increase efficiency, leading to improvements in trade, industry, and economic development within the Spanish colonies. However, the preferential treatment of the peninsulares often led to discontent among the creole elite, who felt marginalized in terms of social status and political power.

The Bourbon monarchy also instituted economic reforms that focused on monopolizing certain industries, like tobacco, and imposing regulations that favored Spanish manufacturers over local colonial enterprises. The enforcement of these reforms further deepened the rift between the colonists and the Spanish crown, contributing to the growing desire for autonomy and self-government among the creole population. Thus, while the Bourbon reforms brought about some economic improvements, they ultimately fueled the underlying tensions that would lead to calls for independence throughout Spanish America.

Answer 2

Under the intendancy system, the Bourbon kings in Spain strengthened central control by appointing peninsulares as governors to enforce centralized administration and improve profitability of the colonies.

Step-by-step explanation:

Under the intendancy system, the Bourbon kings in Spain strengthened central control. They appointed governors, known as intendentes, who were mostly peninsulares, European-born White people from Spain, to run local governments directly and report to the king. These governors were part of the Bourbon monarchy's broader efforts to assert stronger control over their American empire and its resources. The systems emphasized centralized administration and aimed at making the colonies more profitable by, for instance, improving tax collection and adjusting trade regulations to favor Spanish manufacturers. Despite economic developments, these reforms generally increased the discontent of the creoles, who were wealthy locals of Spanish descent born in the colonies, because, under the new regime, they could not hold the highest offices in government and military, roles that were reserved for peninsulares. This centralization negatively impacted the social and political status of the creoles and ultimately fueled their desire for independence and self-governance.