Question

Why did Spain's overseas empire begin to lose its economic viability?

a. Slave rebellions threatened sugar production.
b. Its American silver mines ran out of silver.
c. Disease killed off its sugar crops.
d. Portugal challenged Spain's colonial holdings.

Answer 1

Spain's overseas empire began to lose economic viability due to slave rebellions, depletion of silver mines, disease affecting sugar crops, and colonial challenges from Portugal.

Step-by-step explanation:

Spain's overseas empire began to lose its economic viability due to several factors:

1. Slave rebellions threatened sugar production: In many Spanish colonies, sugar production relied heavily on enslaved labor. Slave rebellions, such as the Haitian Revolution, disrupted the sugar industry and caused economic decline.
2. Its American silver mines ran out of silver: The Spanish empire heavily relied on the wealth extracted from silver mines in the Americas. As the silver mines depleted, so did Spain's economic resources.
3. Disease killed off its sugar crops: Diseases, such as the introduction of sugarcane diseases from other regions, devastated Spain's sugar crops and affected its economic viability.
4. Portugal challenged Spain's colonial holdings: Portugal, another European power, challenged Spain's control over its colonial territories, leading to conflicts and further weakening of Spain's economic position.