19th Century Philippines in Rizal's Context

Flashcards covering the economic, political, and social spheres of the 19th-century Philippines as part of the context for Dr. Jose Rizal's life.

The Century of Change

The term used by Dr. Jose Victor Z. Torres to describe the situation in the Philippines during the 19th century ($1801-1900$).

Industrial Revolution

A major global event in the 19th century characterized by the expansion of factories, steam engines, and railways.

Las Islas Filipinas

The historical name given to the country by Spanish Explorer Ruy de López to honor King Philip II of Spain.

Galleon Trade

Also known as the Manila-Acapulco Trade, this system served as the economic lifeline for the Spaniards in Manila, connecting the Philippines and Mexico from $1565$ to $1815$.

Andres de Urdaneta

The individual who, in convoy under Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, discovered the return route from Cebu to Mexico in $1565$, initiating the galleon system.

Royal Philippine Company

An organization proposed by Governor Basco to finance agricultural development and trade relations between the Philippines, Spain, and other Asian countries.

Ventura Delos Reyes

The representative in the Spanish Cortes ($1810-1813$) whose efforts helped lead to the abolition of the Galleon Trade and who served as the Filipino delegate for the Cádiz Constitution.

Suez Canal

An artificial waterway opened on November 17, $1869$, under the leadership of Ferdinand de Lesseps, which reduced travel time from the Philippines to Spain to between $32$ and $40$ days.

Pacto de retroventa

An agreement of sale where a landowner could buy land back at the same price it was sold; it often led to farmers falling into permanent debt due to the rising economy.

Liberalism

A political and moral philosophy centered on individual liberty, the consent of the governed, and equality before the law.

Bourbon Reforms

Legislations created by the Spanish House of Bourbon in the 18th century to centralize power, increase tax revenue, and regain strict control over overseas colonies.

Cádiz Constitution

A liberal constitution promulgated in $1812$ that established principles such as universal male suffrage, constitutional monarchy, freedom of the press, and land reform.

Polo y servicio

A system of forced labor demanded from the Filipino natives by the Spanish government and the Catholic church.

Peninsulares

The highest class in the social hierarchy, consisting of pure-blooded Spaniards born in the Iberian Peninsula.

Insulares

Pure-blooded Spaniards born in the Philippines.

Principalia

The social class of wealthy pure-blooded natives supposedly descended from the kadatoan class.

Indio

The social classification for pure-blooded natives of the Philippines.

Ilustrados

Meaning "The Enlightened Ones," this group consisted of wealthy individuals born in the Philippines who were able to study abroad.

Inquilinos

Tenants or land managers in haciendas owned by Spanish friars; Francisco Rizal-Mercado, the father of Jose Rizal, held this status at the Hacienda de Calamba.

Canon

The fixed amount of rent paid annually by an inquilino for a piece of land under the inquilinato system.

Frailocracy

A term describing a government or rule dominated by the Friars.

Educational Decree of 1863

A law requiring each town in the Philippines to establish one elementary school for boys and one for girls, and making Spanish the mandatory main language.

University of Santo Tomas

Founded in $1611$, it was the only school by the end of the 19th century offering courses in medicine, pharmacy, theology, philosophy, and law.