Spanish Bourbon Reforms: Absolutism, Unification, and Economic Change

Bourbon Absolutism in Spain

The first Spanish Bourbons followed the example of their French relatives, implementing a model of centralist absolutism. All power resided in the monarch, and the traditional Cortes (parliaments) were largely suppressed.

Centralization of Power

To govern, the king was aided by advisors or secretaries, appointed by the monarch and meeting in the Cabinet, which functioned as a council of ministers. The Cortes largely disappeared, with the exception of the Castilian Cortes, and legislative functions were controlled by institutions loyal to the monarch. The councils, particularly the Council of Castile, continued to exist but their function became purely advisory.

Territorial Unification and New Plant Decrees

The Bourbons aimed to unify the entire country, imposing uniform laws, administration, and institutions. As punishment for supporting the Austrian candidate during the War of the Spanish Succession, Philip V abolished the liberties and institutions of the Crown of Aragon (including Aragon, Catalonia, Valencia, and Mallorca), imposing the Castilian administrative system through the Decretos de Nueva Planta (New Plant Decrees).

Provincial Administration

The territory was divided into provinces, each headed by a Captain-General with both military and administrative power, acting as governor. In each province, Audiencias were created for the administration of justice, Corregidores (magistrates) were appointed for municipal government, and Intendants were established for tax collection and economic development.

Charles III's Era of Reforms

Key Reform Program Initiatives

Charles III implemented a comprehensive reform program aimed at modernizing Spain and strengthening royal authority. Key initiatives included:

• Imposing royal authority over the Church.
• Reforming education, creating new schools and colleges.
• Declaring all professions honorable, challenging traditional social hierarchies.
• Promoting and protecting the Sociedades Económicas de Amigos del País (Economic Societies of Friends of the Country).
• Limiting the privileges of the Mesta (sheep farmers' guild) and promoting the colonization of new lands.
• Liberalizing wheat prices.
• Enacting free trade with America from all Spanish ports.

18th Century Economic Growth and Challenges

At the beginning of the 18th century, Spain was still a predominantly rural society with a scarce agricultural middle class, and most land was in the hands of the privileged. The general expansion of the European economy, coupled with demographic growth and the reformist measures of Charles III, improved Spain's economic situation. The population experienced significant growth, pushing up demand for products. A number of improvements allowed for an increase in agricultural crop production.

Trade and industry also modernized. The liberalization of trade allowed for the expansion of trading companies. Royal manufactures were created and protected, and private ones were encouraged. Tariffs were issued to protect domestic industries from foreign competition. However, this did not fully resolve the problems for industrial development: weak demand, a result of the poverty of the peasantry. The Ilustrados (Enlightened thinkers) stressed the need for land reform to end the concentration of land in the hands of the privileged.