Reformismo - History Lab https://historylab.es Wed, 18 May 2022 10:51:47 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://historylab.es/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-icono-historylab-32x32.jpg Reformismo - History Lab https://historylab.es 32 32 Mayorazgo. Feudal Property in Castile (1369-1836) https://historylab.es/mayorazgo-feudal-property-in-castile-1369-1836/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mayorazgo-feudal-property-in-castile-1369-1836 Sat, 19 Feb 2022 16:33:46 +0000 https://historylab.es/2022/02/19/mayorazgo-propiedad-feudal-en-castilla-1369-1836/ Fragment of text in which Bartolomé Clvero points out the tensions existing between the monarchy and the nobility when the former has a reformist spirit

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]]> Clavero’s words are framed between the second half of the 18th century and the 19th century. At this time, the enlightened and reformers proposed changes aimed at modernising the country, a claim that was not always in line with the interests of other social groups, in this case the nobility. The struggle against these institutions, which according to the Enlightenment had hindered economic progress, took place as these reforms found some support in political power. Little by little, legislation would attempt to intervene in this type of feudal regimes in order to obtain greater tax revenues as well as greater political intervention. The bourgeoisie sought with this type of reform to consolidate political power on a territorial level, for which the power of the lords was an obstacle. At the same time, they wanted to establish a capitalist economy, which required the abolition of this feudal institution. For the monarchy, the interest lay in meeting the increase in state expenditure, which, according to Francisco Javier Guillamon Alvarez, had become burdensome since the end of the 18th century.

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]]> Anonymous manuscript https://historylab.es/anonymous-manuscript/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=anonymous-manuscript Sat, 19 Feb 2022 16:33:46 +0000 https://historylab.es/2022/02/19/manuscrito-anonimo/ Fragment of an anonymous text dated around 1780, which attempts to resolve the three problems afflicting Spain

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]]> 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.

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