Spaniards in the Colonial Empire: Creoles vs. Peninsulars?

Spaniards in the Colonial Empire: Creoles vs. Peninsulars? introduces students to the relationships between Spaniards born in the Americas and those born in Spain. Creoles, those born in the Americas, believed that their families’ sacrifices made them especially qualified to fill administrative positions in the new territories; however, Iberian–born Spaniards frequently filled these posts. Directly addressing the Americans’ complaint of discrimination in appointments to offices of church and state, the book examines why holding these positions was so important to creoles from the sixteenth century to independence. Spaniards in the Colonial Empire argues that patriot leaders in the wars of independence in the early nineteenth century quickly identified peninsulars as the enemy and shattered colonial elites long comprised of Spaniards born in both the Old World and the New.

List of Illustrations viii Series Editor’s Preface ix Preface xi Maps xvi 1 Spain and Its Early Empire in America 1 2 Native Sons and Daughters in the Church 28 3 Native Sons in Office 59 4 The Heyday of Native Sons and Daughters, circa 1630–1750 84 5 Reforms, Commentaries, and Officials, 1750–1808 110 6 The Church, Complaints, and Social Change, 1750–1808 129 7 From Abdications to Independence 149 Glossary 172 Notes 178 Suggestions for Further Reading 184 Index 193

Mark A. Burkholder is Professor of History at the University of Missouri–St. Louis.  His books include Biographical Dictionary of Audiencia Ministers in the Americas, 1687–1821 (with D. S. Chandler, 1982), Biographical Dictionary of Councilors of the Indies, 1717–1808 (1986), and Colonial Latin America, Eighth Edition (with Lyman L. Johnson, March 2012).

“This process, too, is explained with admirable clarity in this authoritative, sophisticated overview of a key issue in Latin American history.”  ( Journal of Latin American Studies , 1 October 2013) “Summing Up:  Recommended.  Upper–division undergraduates and above.” ( Choice , 1 September 2013)