Professor David Bernabé Gil analysed an anonymous document among the papers of the University of Orihuela, which he dated approximately 1780. This text is a charge against the liberalising measures that were being put in place in the time of Carlos III. In the fragment of the text cited, three aspects were pointed out which needed to be rectified in Spain and which free trade was aggravating. The first concerns the situation of agriculture, which the author states should be promoted as a pillar of the state. This is the most tangible example of the persistence of a certain type of thinking linked to physiocracy, which pointed to agriculture as the main wealth of kingdoms and states. At the same time, the situation of the peasants was pointed out, whose life was one of misery and indebtedness, a situation that had favoured the merchants who had used free trade to exploit them and leave them in a situation of prostration. The second maxim was to strengthen local arts and crafts. To this end, he proposed raising prices so that they could find a place in the market (local and foreign) without having to resort to imports. In this way, the author understands that imports, apart from weakening local industry, serve foreign interests, normally associated with states that are enemies of the monarchy and that would benefit from Spanish money. As for the last problem, he pointed out the need to cut back on the huge profits of the clergy and the nobility. These privileged groups benefited from free trade by being able to sell grain at a good price, so their wealth had to be curtailed by cutting their rents or imposing taxes on their land.

Collection: Texts

Chronology: XVIII

Scope: Secondary Education, Baccalaureate, University

Link: http://rua.ua.es/dspace/handle/10045/4637

Resource type: Historical source

Source: A.H.O.: Sección Universidad, carpeta sin clasificar.

Language: Spanish

Date: circa 1780 (Según David Bernabé Gil)

Owner: Djebril Bouzidi (Modernalia)

Identifier: A.H.O.: Sección Universidad, carpeta sin clasificar.

Abstract: Fragment of an anonymous text dated around 1780, which attempts to resolve the three problems afflicting Spain