19th CENTURY
PHILIPPINES
as Rizal’s
Context
The
Revolution
When Governor-General Jose de Basco y Vargas
arrived in the Philippines, Galleon Trade was not
yet in progress. But trading with China, Japan,
Siam (now Thailand), India, Cambodia, Borneo
and the Moluccas (Spice Islands) was already
apparent among our ancestors when the Spaniards
came to the Philippines.
The Spanish government continued trade relations
with said countries and Manila became the Center
of commerce in the East.
The Philippines, allegedly a
Spanish colony, was then
governed from Mexico in 1565,
the Spaniards closed the ports of
Manila to all countries except
Mexico. Hence, the birth of the
Manila-Acapulco Trade, more
known as the “Galleon Trade
The Galleon Trade was a government monopoly. It was a
ship (“galleon”) trade going back and forth between
Manila and Acapulco in Mexico. Only two galleons were
used: one sailed from Acapulco to Manila with some
500,000 pesos worth of goods, spending 120 days at sea
and the other sailed from Manila to Acapulco with some
250,000 pesos worth of goods spending 90 days at sea.
It started when Andres de Urdaneta, in convoy under
Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, discovered a return route from
Cebu (from which the galleon actually landed first) to
Mexico in 1565.
During the heyday of the Galleon Trade, Chinese silk was the most
coveted commodity. The galleons also carried other goods like
tamarind, rice, carabao, Chinese tea and textiles, fireworks, tuba,
perfumes, porcelain, cotton fabric from India, and precious stones.
In return, the galleons brought back 100-300% of profit and huge
quantities of Mexican silver, along with prized flora and fauna such
as guava, avocado, papaya, pineapple, horses, and cattle.
Governor Basco thought of making an organization, the
Royal Philippine Company, that will finance both the
agricultural and the new trade that were being made
between the Philippines and Spain, and other Asian
countries
He also introduced the development of
cash crop farms (crops cultivated for
export) and became very strict to some
policies that allow the continuous
opening of Manila to foreign markets;
And finally, he also established
monopoly and maximize the production
of tobacco.
In 1871, the first tobacco
monopoly was established in
Cagayan Valley, Ilocos
Region, La Union, Isabela,
Abra, Nueva Ecija and
Marinduque
INDUSTRIAL
REVOLUTION
This revolution was considered as
one of the most significant
developments in the 19th century —
from being a country that relied on
machines and wage labor, Europe’s
economic status totally changed. At
this time, traders were fortunate to
become the first capitalists. The
industrial workers were former
farmers who migrated from rural
areas and remote provinces of
Europe.
From this, positive effects took place as the industrial
revolution contributed many things to the people:
1. The Philippines was opened for world commerce.
2. Foreigners were engaged in manufacturing and
agriculture.
3. The Philippine economy became dynamic and balanced.
4. There was rise of new influential and wealthy Filipino
middle class.
5. People were encouraged to participate in the trade.
6. Migration and increase in population were encouraged.
Bourbon Reforms
and Cádiz
Constitution
What Were the
Bourbon Reforms?
What Were the Bourbon Reforms?
•Introduced by Spanish
monarchs in the 18th century.
•Aimed to strengthen the
Spanish Empire and address
inefficiencies in the colonies.
•Deepened divisions between
peninsulares (Spanish-born)
and creoles (American-born
Spaniards).
Objectives of the Bourbon Reforms:
•Centralize control over the American colonies.
•Extract resources for Spain.
•Professionalize the colonial military.
•Subdivide New Spain into smaller administrative
units.
•Reduce the power of viceroys.
•Exclude natives from political and ecclesiastical
positions.
Challenges in Applying the Reforms
•Officers were required to be
Spanish-born, but most were
natives.
•Many high-ranking officials still
came from the peninsulares.
•Colonies resisted reforms due to
perceived exploitation.
Outcomes of the Bourbon
Reforms
•Opened ports for free trade.
•Promoted silver extraction and
mining through new institutions.
•Evicted Jesuits from Spanish
territories for disobedience.
•Increased production and trade, but
at significant social costs.
What Was the
Cádiz Constitution?
What Was the Cádiz
Constitution?
•Drafted in 1812 during
Napoleon’s occupation of
Spain.
•Aimed to create a liberal
constitutional monarchy.
•Important in Spanish and
Western political thought.
Revolutionary
Ideas
•Representation in
government.
•Promotion of free trade.
•Opposition to King
Ferdinand VII’s absolutism.
Impact on Spanish America
•Inspired independence
movements in Spanish America.
•Highlighted the crisis of the
Spanish monarchy.
•Marked a turning point in
Spanish colonial governance.
•Bourbon Reforms
Legacy of Reformssought to
and Constitution
strengthen Spain but caused colonial
unrest.
•Cádiz Constitution was a bold step
toward liberalism but had limited
success.
•Together, they set the stage for the
eventual collapse of the Spanish
Empire.
THANK YOU!!