Toledo Reforms

The Toledo Reforms were reforms implemented by Francisco de Toledo, Count of Oropesa to Spain's policies in the New World.

The years 1533-1569 were considered the years of crisis and turmoil in New Spain. During these years there were several problems that emerged and that needed serious attention. The Spanish conquistadors found it hard to maintain order in the Andes. The problems that emerged during this time were the New Laws of 1542 that were established by Blasco Núñez Vela and the weakening of the "encomienda" system. These laws were established to put an end to Amerindian slavery and to end the economic exploitation of the Amerindians by the establishment of a fair taxation system. This angered the Spaniards because they felt that it was a direct interference in the lands that they won by force and because the laws hurt them from an economical standpoint. The weakening of the "encomienda" system also hurt the Spaniards economically. This system was weakened by competition from other Spanish economic ventures, tax and labor burdens of the "encomenderos", and the spread of European epidemic diseases amongst the Andean peoples. This economic crisis needed serious attention.

To deal with the emerging problems, King Philip II of Spain named Francisco de Toledo, Count of Oropesa as the new viceroy of the Andes in 1569. During his twelve year rule, he established reforms that he felt would deal with the economic crisis in the Andes. Francisco de Toledo's reforms dealt with 3 key issues. The first issue was organizing the indigenous peoples into large towns called "reducciones". The "reducciones" were then divided into 614 administrative districts called "repartimientos". Each "repartimiento" was headed by a "kuraka". The second issue was imposing a regularized system of taxation which was the tribute tax. The tax amount was very high. The tribute was to be paid by all males between the ages of 18-50 and the amount to be paid was based on the social status of the payer. The "kurakas" were exempt from paying the tribute and were responsible for collecting the tribute. The final issue was the establishment of a system of forced labor called the "mita". The forced labor was used to work in the silver mines of Peru and Upper Peru. This system was established so that the wealth gained from these mines could be transferred to Spain.

References

*Kenneth J. Andrien, "Andean Worlds", 2001