Tasa de Esquilache facts for kids
The Tasa de Esquilache was a set of rules and taxes created in 1621. These rules were made by Lope de Ulloa y Lemos, who was the Prince of Esquilache. They were meant for the native people living in the Captaincy General of Chile. This new system was similar to an older one called the Tasa de Gamboa.
When the Esquilache Rules Were Made
The Tasa de Esquilache was officially signed on March 28, 1620. Pedro Lisperguer y Flores, a main representative for the city of Santiago, showed these new rules to the leaders of Santiago on December 11, 1620. The rules were then made public in Concepción on February 14, 1621. This was done by Cristóbal de la Cerda y Sotomayor, who was a senior judge and temporary governor. Luis de Valdivia also helped a lot with Esquilache to write these important rules.
What the Esquilache Rules Said
The new laws changed how native people worked. They stopped the system where all native people had to work for the Spanish, except for those over 18 who were captured in a war between 1608 and 1610. Instead of forced labor, native people now had to pay a forced tribute to the Spanish.
However, the total amount of work expected from the native people was reduced. Also, forced labor in mines was stopped completely. This showed that the colony was moving from mining to farming. The amount of tribute depended on where the native people lived. Those in La Serena, Santiago, Chillán, and Concepcion had to pay more. People in Cuyo paid a bit less, and those in the poorer areas of Chiloé paid much less. Wages were also set differently for each region.
The Tasa de Esquilache also created a system called mit'a. This system required men from a group called an encomienda to work as mitayos for part of the year. During this time, they had to serve the colonial government.
