2. The Bourbon Reforms
• The reforms were intended to stimulate manufacturing and
technology in order to modernize Spain.
• The new Bourbon kings kept close ties with France and used many
Frenchmen as advisors.
• The transfer of the Spanish Crown to the Bourbons, in 1700,brought
with it violence.
• The War of the Spanish Succession (1713) ended with Spain having
to surrender its possessions in Europe and allow British trade with
the Americas.
3. The effects of the Bourbon Reforms
• The Bourbon institutional reforms were to bear some fruit militarily when
Spanish forces easily retook Naples and Sicily from the Austrians in 1734
• Spain also thwarted British campaigns attempting to seize the strategic
cities of Cartagena de Indias and Cuba during the War of Jenkins' Ear
1739–42).
• The discontent in Europe after the reforms led many people to band
together and lead several revolts.
• Criollos, Mestizos, and Indians were
among the most common to be
involved in such resistance movements.
