Economic, Political, and Social Issues of Spanish Period

historical context of spanish colonial period

• religious and vocational education dominated what a women’s role should be

  • inherently domestic in nature and focused on housework

• institutionalized gender inequality

economic issues - economic status

• traditionally employed as factory workers, domestic helpers, and seamstresses

• spaniards viewed them as subservient

  • working women conducted strikes

reasons for colonization

• spice trade

  • flavor, meds, preservation

  • spice islands (moluccas)

• acess to maritime asian markets

  • manila-acapulca galleon trade (1565-1815)

• colonial expansion

  • God, Gold, Glory

polo y servicio

• forced labor for males aged 16-20

  • 40 day period per year

• mainly physical labor and construction projects

• was a cause for the loss of harvests

unjust taxation

• indigenous filos paid a tributo (tax) and other taxes

  • mainly for revenu towards other projects of spain

  • tribute towardds spain as recognition of being a colony

race-based taxation

• spanish blood paid none

• purely indigenous filos paid a general tax

• chinese blood paid more

  • cs they were seen as more capable of producing more wealth

political issues of spanish colonization

• racial distinctions = lack of respect for those of non-spanish blood

  • indio - used to refer to indigenous filos in reference to indigenous natives of the indies

colonial instability

• many local attempts at uprising due to taxation, discrimination, appropriation, and lack of power

• every century under spanish rule ha da revolt

frailocracia

• catholic orders in the ph held a massive sway over the population

  • friars controlled education, politics, agriculture

  • they repory their findings to the colonial administration

lack of indigenous power

• all indigenous filos had little to no say in the policy of the colonial administration

• colonial policy was driven by the absolute power of the spanish monarchy

social issue of spanishs

• social stratification

• lack of unity

social stratification

• social class was rigid due to several factors

  • taxation based on race

  • representation corrrelated to race

  • difficult to improve one’s class unless thru meritorious service

lack of unity

• bcs of social classes, filipoinos were divided amongst themselves

  • principalias

  • indios

• lack of unity cs of spanish colonial control

  • driven by necessity, loyalty, greed