European University Institute Library

Bankruptcy of empire, Mexican silver and the wars between Spain, Britain, and France, 1760-1810, Carlos Marichal

eng

index present

non fiction

Bankruptcy of empire

electronic resource

dictionaries

458705386

Carlos Marichal

Cambridge Latin American studies, 91Cambridge Social Sciences eBooks

Mexican silver and the wars between Spain, Britain, and France, 1760-1810

Originally published in 2007, this book incorporates the rich literature on the history of the fiscal organization and financial dynamics of the Spanish empire within the broader historical debates on rival European imperial states from 1760 to 1810. The focus is on colonial Mexico because it served as a fiscal and financial submetropolis that ensured the capacity of the imperial state to defend itself in a time of successive international conflicts. Throughout the reign Charles IV, the finances of the Spanish state began to sink. This collapse was caused by the enormous expense of waging successive wars in the Americas and Europe. In each war, colonial Mexico was a most important source of resources for the Crown, but these demands gradually outstripped the tax base of the viceroyalty despite the extraordinary silver boom of the late eighteenth century. The bankruptcy of the Spanish monarchy and its empire was the inevitable consequence.--, Provided by publisher

Introduction -- Resurgence of the Spanish empire: Bourbon Mexico as submetropolis, 1763-1800 -- An imperial tax state: the fiscal rigors of colonialism -- Imperial wars and loans from new Spain, 1780-1800 -- The royal church and the finances of the viceroyalty -- Napoleon and Mexican silver, 1805-1808 -- Between Spain and America: the royal treasury and the Gordon & Murphy consortium, 1806-1808 -- Mexican silver for the Cortes of Cádiz and the war against Napoleon, 1808-1811 -- The rebellion of 1810, colonial debts, and bankruptcy of New Spain -- Conclusions: the financial collapse of viceroyalty and monarchy