Rizal in the 19th Century

Vocabulary flashcards covering key people, terms, and events from the Rizal-era notes (19th century Philippines under Spanish rule).

Peninsulares

Highest class in the colonial hierarchy; Spaniards born in Spain who held high offices and owned land.

Insulares (Criollos)

Europeans born in the colonies; lower status than Peninsulares; often intermarried with Filipinos, producing mestizos.

Mestizos

Offspring of Spaniards and Filipinos or other races; mixed heritage in colonial Philippines.

National consciousness

Growing awareness among natives of a Filipino national identity.

Anti-colonial movements

Efforts in the 19th century to challenge and resist colonial rule.

Industrial Revolution

Period of rapid industrial growth transforming societies, with inventions like railroads, the cotton gin, and electricity.

Transcontinental railroad

A railroad system connecting distant regions, facilitating industrialization and trade.

Cotton gin

A machine that separates cotton fibers from seeds, accelerating textile production.

Electricity

Energy that enabled modern technology; a hallmark of industrial change.

Suez Canal

Man-made waterway opened in 1869 linking the Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean, vital for global trade.

Governor-General

The chief Spanish official governing the Philippines on behalf of the Crown.

Carlos María de la Torre

Governor-General (1869–1871) noted for liberal reforms and popularity.

Abolition of press censorship

End of government censorship of newspapers under de la Torre.

Imprisonment for desertion (instead of flogging)

Policy replacing flogging with a month’s imprisonment for desertion.

Cavite agrarian troubles

Agrarian grievances in Cavite resolved through reforms and tenant leadership arrangements.

Eduardo Camerino

Leader of aggrieved Cavite tenants; appointed captain of Guias de la Torre.

Guias de la Torre

A cadre of guides used to assist the Guardia Civil in policing.

Guardia Civil

Colonial Civil Guard; the main police force in the Philippines under Spanish rule.

Morel decrees (November 6, 1870)

Decrees secularizing certain secondary and collegiate institutions in Manila.

Secularization of Manila education

Transfer of control of secondary and college education from church to secular authorities.

Rafael Izquierdo

Governor-General after de la Torre; 1871–1873; known for strict governance.

Iron Fist

Harsh, controlling, repressive approach to governance.

Cavite mutiny (1872)

Armed uprising in Cavite by local troops against colonial authorities.

41 mutineers executed

After Cavite mutiny, 41 participants were executed.

Gomburza

Abbreviation for Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora; priests executed in 1872.

Jose Burgos

One of the Gomburza; priest and reform advocate, executed in 1872.

Mariano Gomez

One of the Gomburza; priest executed in 1872.

Jacinto Zamora

One of the Gomburza; priest executed in 1872.

Cavite

Province in Luzon; site of the 1872 mutiny.

Morel Decrees (secularization details)

Part of the Morel decrees specifically secularizing Manila education.

Censorship reform impact

Lifting press censorship fostered greater public discourse.

Tenants’ agitation in Cavite

Organized efforts by tenants influenced by reforms and Camerino’s leadership.

Camerino’s captaincy

Eduardo Camerino’s role as captain of Guias de la Torre with authority to aid Guardia Civil.

Civil guard authority

Expanded power and authority of the Guardia Civil to maintain order.

Secular education reform

Broader move to remove church control from education and promote secular instruction.

Education reforms under Morel decrees

Specific changes in Manila’s education system initiated by the Morel decrees.

Liberal influences vs Iron Fist governance

Tension between liberal reforms and repressive governance styles in the period.

Filipino nationalism roots

Early nationalist sentiments shaped by mutiny and reform experiences.

Wan­ing Spanish glory

Decline of Spain’s imperial power and prestige in the 19th century.

300 years of Spanish rule

Long period of Spanish colonization in the Philippines (context for notes).