Colonial Latin America

Mid -Term Paper

Latin America History – 1825

Dr. A. Araujo

Amyia McCarthy

@02444478

March 10, 2009

Colonialism Structures in Latin America: Spain (Castilonia) and Portugal

Overview

The organization of the Colonial system in the then “New World” would be the primary task facing both the kingdoms of Castilonia (Spain) and Portugal. The distance of the European kings from their South American colonies posed a great obstacle for both. The Portuguese, with a much smaller territory, addressed this by building their cities close to ports to ease communication while the Spanish, faced with an immense amount of territory, sought to immediately and firmly organize their colonies. This paper will examine and contrast what were arguably the most important parts of the society structure of both Iberian nations’ colonial interests: the government (political), economy and the church.

Government

Almost immediately, the Spanish created a strict hierarchal system within their New World Colonies. The colonies were organized into the following: viceroys and lesser audiencas (royal offices), corregmientos (seats), acalidas (counties), mayores (municinpalities) and gobernaciones (governors. This organization was an attempt to decentralize an overwhelming amount of land. In 1524, a Council of the Indies was created to oversee all of Castile’s affairs within the Americas. This office oversaw all civil and financial matters, including those religious, until the early 18th century. As one can imagine with such an overseeing office, there existed no “checks and balances” or separation of power within this system. Legislative, judicial, and executive offices were often one in the same.(Burkholder & Johnson).

The appointment of positions was also very often the result of royal favor or nepotism; however, individuals did not tend to stay in position for long periods of time, so as not to bestow too much power away from the crown, which was the ultimate...