▶ Organización del Gobierno Colonial 💻 Educa Play📚 📲 Te contamos TODO

Summary

After the Spanish conquest of the Americas, the Spanish Crown faced the challenge of organizing and governing its vast new territories. To address this, four Viceroyalties were established: New Spain, Peru, New Granada, and Río de la Plata, each overseen by a Viceroy. These regions were divided into governorships, with Spanish officials ensuring adherence to royal policies. Local governance was managed by Cabildos, which handled taxes, security, and public works. Key Spanish institutions, like the Casa de Contratación and the Consejo de Indias, were also created to manage trade and legal matters in the colonies.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Spanish faced challenges in governance and territorial organization after the conquest of the Americas.
• 😀 To address these challenges, four viceroyalties were established: New Spain, Peru, New Granada, and the Río de la Plata.
• 😀 The first two viceroyalties were founded in the 16th century, and the latter two in the 18th century.
• 😀 Each viceroyalty was divided into governorships, each managed by a governor.
• 😀 Spanish officials regularly visited the territories to ensure that tasks were being carried out properly.
• 😀 Local councils known as cabildos existed in each viceroyal city, handling tax collection, security, and public works.
• 😀 The cabildo's main official was the mayor (alcalde), and open council meetings (cabildo abierto) were held to address local issues.
• 😀 In Spain, the Casa de Contratación oversaw trade, while the Consejo de Indias advised the king and resolved legal matters.
• 😀 The viceroyalties were a key part of the Spanish colonial system in the Americas, helping to administer vast territories.
• 😀 The Spanish administrative institutions were designed to maintain control and organize the New World under the crown's authority.

Q & A

What was the main difficulty the Spanish faced after the conquest of America?

The main difficulty the Spanish faced was the challenge of governing and organizing the vast American territories due to the great distance from Spain.

What were the 'virreinatos' in Spanish colonial administration?

The 'virreinatos' were administrative divisions established to govern large territories in the Americas. Each virreinato was ruled by a viceroy who represented the Spanish crown.

How many virreinatos were established, and what were their names?

Four virreinatos were established: the Virreinato de la Nueva España, the Virreinato del Perú, the Virreinato de la Nueva Granada, and the Virreinato del Río de la Plata.

When were the first two virreinatos established, and when were the latter two founded?

The first two virreinatos, Nueva España and Perú, were established in the 16th century, while Nueva Granada and Río de la Plata were founded in the 18th century.

What was the role of a 'gobernador' in the Spanish colonial system?

The 'gobernador' was the governor of each 'gobernación' (territorial division) within the virreinatos, responsible for overseeing the administration and governance of the region.

What was the function of the 'cabildos' in Spanish colonial cities?

The 'cabildos' were local governing bodies that managed tasks such as tax collection, ensuring public safety, and carrying out public works in the cities. The head of the cabildo was the 'alcalde' (mayor).

What was a 'cabildo abierto', and when was it convened?

A 'cabildo abierto' was an open council or meeting of prominent citizens convened to resolve important issues or problems in the community.

What role did the 'Casa de Contratación' play in Spanish colonial governance?

The 'Casa de Contratación' (House of Trade) was responsible for overseeing and regulating commerce between Spain and its American colonies, ensuring that trade was conducted according to Spanish law.

What was the purpose of the 'Consejo de Indias'?

The 'Consejo de Indias' (Council of the Indies) was an advisory body to the Spanish king, tasked with resolving legal disputes and providing advice on matters concerning the governance of the colonies.

Why were these institutions like the 'virreinatos', 'cabildos', and 'Casa de Contratación' created by the Spanish crown?

These institutions were created to effectively manage and control the vast territories of the Americas, ensuring the efficient administration, governance, and economic regulation of the colonies from afar.