HIST 1F96 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Repartimiento, Bicameralism, Sovereign Council Of New France
Document Summary
**spanish and french politics barely have a sense of democracy (no elections, most people were appointed and sent from europe); british political policies have democracy based on wealth (inheritance) November 12th, 2013: royal administration in spanish colonies: 1492-1524, conquistadors had political power over territories conquered. 1524, spain creates council of indies (oversaw political power over colonies; appointed officials, coded laws, detail geography, history and population, etc. ) Spanish colonies had two viceroyalties (new spain with capital mexico city; peru with lima) Each was led by a viceroy tasks: Increase royal revenues: defend colonies, relations with natives. Viceroy"s powers were theoretically limited by council of indies (but thousands of miles away) Local affairs were led by audiencias (local councils appointed by spanish government) Viceroy and audiencias could create and enforce laws: provincial administration: Only form of provincial government was the town councils (cabildos) Dominated by wealthy landowners who enriched themselves by: bought crown lands cheap, gave themselves lots of repartimiento indian labourers.
