Abstract

PEREZ-MORALES, Edgardo. Commercial Activity in the Transition to Independence: "Decree Regulating Trade Issued by the Government of the State of Cartagena de Indias" (1813). Hist. Soc. [online]. 2021, n.40, pp.324-332.  Epub Mar 08, 2021. ISSN 0121-8417.  https://doi.org/10.15446/hys.n40.90170.

Most studies on the transition to independence in Spanish America tend to focus on political processes. However, it is worth asking: what happened to the world of material life and economic relations? Cartagena de Indias affords a paradigmatic case since it was the first province of present-day Colombia to become independent in 1811. From that moment on, large and small merchants acted with pragmatism, taking advantage of the political crisis to consolidate free trade overseas. Therefore, the decree transcribed below - Little known by historians - shows an innovative Cartagena government that regulated a notable commercial awakening that connected this New Granada city with ports such as Baltimore and New Orleans. Although these interesting efforts disappeared with the Restoration in 1815, the document is illustrative of an economic transformation that was irregular, fast and closely connected with the outside world.

Keywords : foreign trade; commercial networks; commercial legislation; ports; Atlantic; economic history; fiscal history; New Kingdom of Granada; Independence.

        · abstract in Spanish | Portuguese     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )