Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of figures and tables
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Economic Aspects of Spanish Imperial Expansion, 1492–1550
- 3 Commodities and Resources During the Conquest Period
- 4 The Hapsburg Commercial System
- 5 Inter-Colonial Trade and the Hapsburg Commercial System
- 6 Foreign Penetration of the Ibero-American Economy in the Hapsburg Period
- 7 Economic Growth in Spanish America in the Hapsburg Period
- 8 Commercial and Economic Relations in the Early Bourbon Period, 1700–1765
- 9 ‘Free Trade’ and the Peninsular Economy
- 10 ‘Free Trade’ and the American Economy
- 11 Economic Relations Between Spain and America on the Eve of the Revolutions for Independence
- 12 Conclusion: Economic Grievances and Insurrection in Late Colonial Spanish America
- Appendix: Spanish Monarchs
- Glossary of Spanish Terms
- Bibliographical Essay
- Index
10 - ‘Free Trade’ and the American Economy
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of figures and tables
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Economic Aspects of Spanish Imperial Expansion, 1492–1550
- 3 Commodities and Resources During the Conquest Period
- 4 The Hapsburg Commercial System
- 5 Inter-Colonial Trade and the Hapsburg Commercial System
- 6 Foreign Penetration of the Ibero-American Economy in the Hapsburg Period
- 7 Economic Growth in Spanish America in the Hapsburg Period
- 8 Commercial and Economic Relations in the Early Bourbon Period, 1700–1765
- 9 ‘Free Trade’ and the Peninsular Economy
- 10 ‘Free Trade’ and the American Economy
- 11 Economic Relations Between Spain and America on the Eve of the Revolutions for Independence
- 12 Conclusion: Economic Grievances and Insurrection in Late Colonial Spanish America
- Appendix: Spanish Monarchs
- Glossary of Spanish Terms
- Bibliographical Essay
- Index
Summary
The basic aim of this chapter is to provide an evaluation of the imperial response to the introduction of ‘free trade’ in 1778 by means of a detailed, quantitative examination of American exports to Spain in the period up to 1796, within the context of a qualitative discussion of the development of the American economy prior to the introduction of neutral trade in 1797. It considers, first, the volume of American trade with Spain in the period 1778–96, as measured by the registered values of American cargoes landed in Spanish ports; second, the distribution of imports from America between the 14 Spanish ports which received ships from the empire in this period; third, the composition of imports in terms of commodities; and fourth, the relative importance of distinct regions in America as suppliers of the commodities shipped to the mother country. This last-mentioned section also provides an opportunity for a general discussion of the impact of ‘free trade’ upon industrial production in America, and of the relationship between mining production and commercial growth in the last quarter of the eighteenth century. The chapter concludes with a brief general survey of the development of the mining industry in the Bourbon era as a whole.
VALUES OF IMPORTS INTO SPAIN FROM AMERICA
In 1794, as part of a comprehensive assessment of Spain's international trading position, Diego de Gardoqui reminded the Council of State of the fundamental importance of trade with America in enabling the country to balance its commercial books.
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- Publisher: Liverpool University PressPrint publication year: 1997