2. THESIS
What were the Main causes of revolt in the viceroy
of new granada
The Revolt by the Comuneros of New Granada
was significant to Latin America because it was
really a precursor to revolution as it was very
small and local in response to an increase of
taxes on tobacco and brandy as part of the
Bourbon Reforms. It was just a build up after
years of protest against the crown's
implementation of new taxes and policy in order
to pay for increased defenses against the British,
as well as just making a profit off of the colony
as well; they would start protesting around 1740
to around 1780. By 1781 there was a full-blown
revolt in the Viceroyalty of New Granada.
3. REVOLT OF THE COMUNEROS (NEW GRANADA)
https://www.revolvy.com/topic/Revolt%20of%20the%20Comuneros%20(New%20Granada)
This article gives good information as to how the revolution was started in the first place. It goes into
detail about who started the revolution and why, it gives names of political figures who were involved
with the Revolution such as the leader himself Juan Francisco Berbeo. Major events during the
revolution such as the march on the capitol Bogota, and the disbanding of the rebels. It also provides a
brief summary of the revolution itself. Although it doesn’t go into much detail on the leaders themselves
and is over all just a brief look at the subject.
Evaluation of the source: This article is a good way to get a general overview of the event itself but is
not good for an in depth look at the causes of the rebellion or the rebellion itself. It does however
provide links to other articles by which the information was gathered. There is also not a clear author but
again provides cited articles with authors.
4. THEECONOMIC IMPACTOF THEBOURBONREFORMSANDTHE LATECOLONIAL CRISISOF EMPIREAT
THELOCAL LEVEL: THECASEOF
SALTILLO, 1777-1817
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/americas/article/economic-impact-of-the-bourbon-reforms-
and-the-late-colonial-crisis-of-empire-at-the-local-level-the-case-of-saltillo-
17771817/6D2F76F8A2BF92A0DA7623A89B457A9E
This article gives information on the bourbon reforms themselves. The Bourbon reforms occurred during
the later part of the Spanish colonial period and was used in order to extract revenue from the colonies
themselves but also to pay for defenses against foreign countries. The municipal government throughout
Latin America had become and object of reform as well as a large part of bourbon organization the
ground level. These changes had to go through the municipal government because day to day aspects
such as contact with the general population, takin censuses, and the establishment of militia units went
through the municipal government.
Evaluation of the source: This article is a great source for looking at an in-depth analysis of the bourbon
reforms, and how it was enacted and just what exactly the bourbon reforms were. Its author, Jose Cuello,
has a Ph.D. from the University of California Berkley.
5. LATIN AMERICA IN COLONIAL TIMES
Restall & Lane, ch. 14, pg. 271
This is the textbook we used for class, I was initially leaning away from using the textbook because I
wanted to deviate a little bit from the book, but after reading through the section with the Comuneros I
found the information to be accurate and informational. The book actually talked about the crown trying
to monopolize the tobacco and alcohol industry. Its not surprising to me that colonists would try and
revolt against their government when they were trying to monopolize the markets in which many people
made a living. This in addition to the bourbon reforms and increase in taxation in order to pay for better
defenses made it harder to make a profit for the colonists.
Evaluation of the source: Seeing as this source was the main textbook for our class (Early Latin Americn
History) I would have to say that the information provided by it has to be extremely accurate and very
well refined. Matthew Restall is a director of Latin American studies at Pennsylvania State University.
Kris Lane is the Frances V. Scholes Chair in Latin American History at the Tulane University in New
Orleans, Louisiana.
6. REBELLIONS IN LATE COLONIAL SPANISH AMERICA: A COMPARATIVE
PERSPECTIVE
http://scalar.usc.edu/works/disidencia-en-la-amrica-espaola-
colonial/media/rebellions%20comparative%20perspective.compressed.pdf
This piece is a good read if you’re looking for examples of revolutions across Latin America. There is a
big focus on the Comuneros though. The Comuneros Revolution took place at the same time as the
uprising lead by Tupac Amaru in Peru. It was also the third rebellion in a string of rebellions across
Latin America. At its height the Comuneros rebellion would see the mobilization of 20,000 men and was
considered a serious threat to the Viceregal capitol and forced the colonial authorities to meet their
demands.
Evaluation of the source: This article was written by a very reliable source. The Author Anthony
McFarlane has two degrees, one: a B.Sc. from London School of Economic and Political Science, and
two: a Ph.D. in history from the University of London.
7. COLOMBIABEFORE INDEPENDENCE: ECONOMY, SOCIETY, AND POLITICS UNDER
BOURBONRULE
https://books.google.com/books?id=vPJIsHeDp04C&pg=PA264&lpg=PA264&dq=Comuneros+of+New+
Granada&source=bl&ots=uvIIBkzMN1&sig=SzURv806pAawJUmXwnVKYuieOtc&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2a
hUKEwi_i4XkkorfAhWC5YMKHfeYCnM4KBDoATADegQIBRAB#v=onepage&q&f=false
Another piece written by Anthony McFarlane, this book goes into detail about New Granadas economy
before and after the Comuneros revolt. It even has a table showing the estimated amount of people in
certain professions during that time. Also explaining there economic system and norms during the
revolution and after. For instance there were more tailors, carpenters, and cobblers than any other
profession in New Granada. It gives a very close look at life before the revolution in very clear detail,
although its only a preview so its hard to find information on the revolution itself.
Evaluation of the source: This article was written by a very reliable source. The Author Anthony
McFarlane has two degrees, one: a B.Sc. from London School of Economic and Political Science, and
two: a Ph.D. in history from the University of London.
8. THE PEOPLE AND THE KING : THE COMUNERO REVOLUTION IN COLOMBIA, 1781
http://eds.b.ebscohost.com.libproxy.cnm.edu:8080/eds/ebookviewer/ebook/bmxlYmtfXzMzMzAyNF9f
QU41?sid=a5a1f0d0-6a47-4d09-acd4-0fc133707fcf@sdc-v-
sessmgr02&vid=0&format=EB&lpid=lp_1&rid=0
This source goes through an entire history of New Granada and all the events leading up to the
revolution in New Granada (now modern-day Colombia This is a much more in depth look into the
revolution itself and the reasons behind it. More so than any other source I have found. ). The entire
story of the revolt of the Comuneros, form the beginning to the end detailing every major event in its
history even going past the revolution. It talks about how after the Comuneros revolt New Granada had
to be retaken due to its Infidelity, an archbishop had even been sent to visit the town of Socorro and its
neighboring towns and parishes.
Evaluation of the source: I found this source in the CNM Library. I found it very informative with
copious amounts of information on the topic itself. The author John Leddy Phelan graduated from
Harvard College cum laude in History and earned his doctorate at the University of California, Berkley.
Also seeing as CNM has this in its databases it would seem to me that it should be accurate and reliable.
I would probably consider this to be my number one source for this project, after taking a second look at
my previous sources.
9. CONCLUSION
• In conclusion I can see that what lead to the revolution of the Comuneros in New Granada was not just one event, but rather a series of
events that lead to a build up of tensions that finally snapped and started a revolution. The Comuneros revolt was a direct response to
all of these events and it wasn’t just as if the revolution appeared out of nowhere, it was a gradual build, as there was protesting and
rioting across New Granada from around 1740 until the revolution in 1781.
• The Spanish Crown implemented the Bourbon Reforms, taxed tobacco and alcohol, and tried to monopolize the industries they had
started to tax in order to gain revenue from the colonies. In addition to these there was an increase in other taxes to help pay for
defenses for Spain’s colonies, as the British had just lost the American Revolution, and were in a time of economic turmoil, and was in
search of new land.
• The Comuneros after finally having enough, decided to revolt, while the revolt was fairly local it had amassed around 20,000
revolutionaries, which was a sizable enough force to be take seriously and have there demands met. They indeed marched on the
capitol of Begota in New Granada.
• New Granada was not the only country to revolt during this time, there were also revolts in places like Peru, Quito, and later Mexico.
During this time (1760-1810) there would only be four major revolts against the Spanish Crown and they all had mixed results, Quito
had gained a suspension of royal government, Peru would see widespread insurrection, but would ultimately be put down by military
force, New Granada had forced the government to meet their demands by marching on the capitol with 20,000 men, and in Mexico, the
revolution lead by Father Miguel Hidalgo which lead to widespread insurgency but after the death of Hidalgo and initial defeat would
turn into a civil war.
