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Edge of Crisis

War and Trade in the Spanish Atlantic, 1789–1808

Barbara H. Stein and Stanley J. Stein

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This authoritative study of colonialism in the Spanish empire at the end of the eighteenth century examines how the Spanish metropole attempted to preserve the links to its richest colony in the western Atlantic, New Spain (Mexico), in the face of international developments. Continuing the approach in Silver, Trade, and War and Apogee of Empire, Barbara and Stanley Stein detail Spain’s ad hoc efforts to adjust metropolitan and colonial institutions, structures, and ideology to the pressures of increased competition in the Old and New worlds.

In reviewing the attempts at reform, the authors...

This authoritative study of colonialism in the Spanish empire at the end of the eighteenth century examines how the Spanish metropole attempted to preserve the links to its richest colony in the western Atlantic, New Spain (Mexico), in the face of international developments. Continuing the approach in Silver, Trade, and War and Apogee of Empire, Barbara and Stanley Stein detail Spain’s ad hoc efforts to adjust metropolitan and colonial institutions, structures, and ideology to the pressures of increased competition in the Old and New worlds.

In reviewing the attempts at reform, the authors explore networks of individuals and groups, some accepting and others rejecting the Spanish transatlantic trade system. They provide accounts from both sides of the Atlantic to show how economic policy, imperial goals, and consequent social divisions and factionalism in New Spain and Spain undermined the government’s efforts at economic and political adjustments. The Steins draw on a wide range of archival material in Mexico, Spain, and France to place the waning of the Spanish empire in an Atlantic perspective. They also show how Spain came to the verge of collapse in a time of revolution and at the beginning of the transition from commercial to industrial capitalism.

Comprehensive and carefully researched, Edge of Crisis explains the broad array of factors that led up to the French invasion of Spain in early 1808.

Reviews

Reviews

For maritime historians, this book provides an insightful and detailed exploration of these changing international alliances and their impact on transatlantic and Caribbean shipping.

Required reading for specialists in Spanish and colonial Spanish American history. Essential.

A stupendous effort to broaden and deepen the contours of the ‘Spanish Atlantic’—a felicitous phrase and concept—at the end of the eighteenth century... I await the next volume from the Steins with eagerness, since it will undoubtedly round out this vast historical interpretation of the Spanish Atlantic with which they have already regaled us.

About

Book Details

Publication Date
Status
Available
Trim Size
6
x
9
Pages
640
ISBN
9780801890468
Table of Contents

Preface
Part One: Autumn of Proyectismo
1. Continuity and Crisis, 1789–1797
2. War and the Colonies: Aranda and Godoy
3. The Late Proyectistas
Part Two: Fissioning of New Spain
4. Reorganizing New Spain's

Preface
Part One: Autumn of Proyectismo
1. Continuity and Crisis, 1789–1797
2. War and the Colonies: Aranda and Godoy
3. The Late Proyectistas
Part Two: Fissioning of New Spain
4. Reorganizing New Spain's External Trade: The Effects of Comercio Libre, 1789–1796
5. A Hegemony Threatened: Mexico City and Veracruz
6. Mining and Its Fissures
7. Export Agriculture: Growth and Conflict
8. Comercio Neutro / Comercio Directo
9. "Informal" Comercio Neutro, 1804–1808
Part Three: Financing Empire
10. Consolidación: Spain
11. Consolidación: New Spain
12. Strange Saga: The Transfer of New Spain's Silver, 1804–1808
Part Four: Toward the Second War of Succession
13. "Treasures in the New World"
14. "La tempestad que nos amenazaba"
15. The National Drama, Act I: Conspiracy at the Escorial
By Way of Conclusion
Notes
Bibliography
Index

Author Bios
Featured Contributor

Barbara H. Stein

Barbara H. Stein (1916-2005) was an independent historian and former bibliographer for Latin America, Spain, and Portugal at Princeton University's Firestone Library.
Featured Contributor

Stanley J. Stein

Stanley J. Stein is the Walter S. Carpenter Professor in Spanish Civilization and Culture, Emeritus, at Princeton University.