The Spanish Atlantic World in the Eighteenth Century
War and the Bourbon Reforms, 1713–1796

Covers the evolution of royal policy in Spanish America as eighteenth-century Spain modernized its empire and transformed itself into a power of the first order.

Allan J. Kuethe (Author), Kenneth J. Andrien (Author)

9781107043572, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 12 May 2014

402 pages, 15 b/w illus. 7 colour illus. 2 tables
23.5 x 15.6 x 2.7 cm, 0.69 kg

This volume elucidates Bourbon colonial policy with emphasis on Madrid's efforts to reform and modernize its American holdings. Set in an Atlantic world context, the book highlights the interplay between Spain and America as the Spanish empire struggled for survival amid the fierce international competition that dominated the eighteenth century. The authors use extensive research in the repositories of Spain and America, as well as innovative consultation of the French Foreign Affairs archive, to bring into focus the poorly understood reformist efforts of the early Bourbons, which laid the foundation for the better-known agenda of Charles III. As the book unfolds, the narrative puts flesh on the men and women who, for better or worse, influenced colonial governance. It is the story of power, ambition and idealism at the highest levels.

Part I. Alberoni, Patiño, and the Beginnings of Atlantic Reform, 1700–1736: 1. Alberoni and the first stirrings of reform, 1714–1721
2. Alberoni and colonial reform
3. José de Patiño and the revival of reform, 1726–1736
Part II. The Second Wave of Reform, 1736–1759: 4. War and reform, 1736–1749
5. Clerical reform and the secularization of the Doctrinas de Indios
6. The downfall of Ensenada and the pause in reform, 1750–1762
Part III. Pinnacle of the Bourbon Reforms, 1759–1796: 7. The first phase of reform under Charles III, 1762–1767
8. The reorganization of Spain's Atlantic empire, 1767–1783
9. Adjustments and refinements in the reformist agenda, 1783–1796
Conclusion: war and reform in the Spanish Atlantic world.

Subject Areas: Modern history to 20th century: c 1700 to c 1900 [HBLL], History of the Americas [HBJK], European history [HBJD]