Spain Under the Bourbons: Policy and Culture

Bourbon Foreign Policy in Europe

Under Philip V's foreign policy, the initial aim was to revise the Treaty of Utrecht. Given the failure of this policy, Philip V attempted to secure the Crown of France, but opposition from European powers and the survival of the young Louis XV led the King to abandon this idea. In 1734, Spain signed the First Family Pact with France. The signing of this agreement, which saw Spain support France in the War of Polish Succession, resulted in the Infante Don Carlos becoming King of Naples. In 1743, the Second Family Pact was signed. The reign of Ferdinand VI was a period of neutrality. In contrast, under Charles III, European policy became more belligerent, leading to the signing of the Third Family Pact, which involved Spain's participation in the Seven Years' War. By the Peace of Paris, Spain ceded the Florida peninsula to the English, but France ceded Louisiana to Spain. Spain also supported the U.S. Independence movement to harm Britain, and by the Peace of Versailles, Spain recovered Florida and Menorca, but not Gibraltar.

Bourbon Reforms in Spanish America

Bourbon policy in America was characterized by the attempt to reform and centralize administration. The zoning plan created two new viceroyalties: under Philip V, the Viceroyalty of New Granada (now Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Panama) was created, and under Charles III, the Viceroyalty of Río de la Plata (present-day Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Bolivia) was established. Intendants were created, following the French territorial model, as had happened in Spain. Attempts were made to improve tax collection and modernize the economy. Trade between America and the Iberian Peninsula was liberalized, and privileges were granted to France and the asiento (right to supply slaves) to Britain, due to the Treaty of Utrecht. As part of the royalist policy of the Bourbons, the Jesuits were expelled under Charles III, causing disturbances, especially in mission areas. On the military level, some ports like Havana were strengthened to prevent attacks by pirates or English ships. The Crown created commercial companies, and the monopoly of the House of Trade virtually disappeared by the late eighteenth century. During this century, its headquarters moved from Seville to Cadiz. Many of these reforms led to unrest among the native Americans, creating a breeding ground for the independence movements of the next century.

The Enlightenment in 18th Century Spain

Originating from France, the Enlightenment took hold among a minority of the population in Spain. It was a cultural movement that sought, by means of Reason, to advance society. Ministers like Floridablanca and Campomanes attempted reforms of an economic and social nature that were clearly enlightened. Authors such as Jovellanos presented plans for agrarian reform aimed at increasing production, rationalizing resource use, and distributing land ownership. During this century, cultural institutions like the National Library and the Royal Spanish Academy were created. Campomanes proposed measures advocating for the development of trade, reducing the privileges of the Church and the nobility, and fostering private initiative, such as the creation of the Economic Societies of Friends of the Country, which spread the ideals of the Enlightenment. On the educational front, there were also projects, many of which did not fully develop. Opposition to the Enlightenment came from privileged groups and the Church. The Inquisition attempted to stop the spread of enlightened ideas. The greatest exponent against the Enlightenment was Fernando de Cevallos, author of False Philosophy.