Royal Decree of Graces of 1815
| Royal Cédula of Graces of 1815 | |
|---|---|
 Royal Cédula of Graces of 1815 | |
| Ratified | 10 August 1815 |
| Location | General Archives of Puerto Rico in the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture |
| Purpose | It is a royal grant approved by the Spanish Crown to encourage Spaniards and Europeans of non-Spanish origin, but born in countries allied to Spain, to settle in and populate the colonies of Puerto Rico and Cuba. |
The Royal Cédula of Graces of 1815 (
Royal Cédula of Graces
The
On 10 August 1815, King Ferdinand VII of Spain approved the Spanish Royal Cédula of Graces, which granted Puerto Rico the right to have commercial ties with countries which were in good standing with Spain. It also granted free land to settlers, as well as incentives for investing money and providing technology for agricultural development to any Spaniard willing to relocate and settle in those territories. [1]
Puerto Rico was largely undeveloped until 1830, when immigrants from the Spanish provinces of
Situation in the Spanish Colonies
At the beginning of the 19th century, the Spanish colonies in the Western Hemisphere fought for their independence. In South America, Simón Bolívar and José de San Martín led colonists to victory against Spanish rule; in Mexico, José María Morelos led the movement.
By 1825, the Spanish Empire had lost control of all of its territories in the
Situation in Europe
During the latter part of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century, great economic and political changes occurred in
These conditions led to a massive European immigration to the Americas. Hundreds of Corsicans, Italians, French, Portuguese, Irish, Scots, Germans, and Croatians [4] attracted by the offers of free land by the Spanish Crown, moved to the colony of Puerto Rico and accepted the conditions. As soon as these settlers swore their loyalty to the Spanish Crown and their allegiance to the Roman Catholic Church, they were given a "Letter of Domicile". After five years, the settlers were granted a "Letter of Naturalization" that made them Spanish subjects. In 1870, to attract non-Catholic Europeans, Spain's Cortes of Cádiz passed a law granting the right of religious freedom in the islands.
Aftermath
The new settlers soon adopted the language and customs of their new homeland, and many intermarried with the local residents. Many became prominent business and political leaders. The Royal Cédula continued in effect until 1898, when Spain finally lost Puerto Rico and Cuba, its last two possessions in the New World, to the United States under the Treaty of Paris that ended the Spanish–American War.[2]
The original Spanish Royal Cédula of Graces of 1815 is kept in the General Archives of Puerto Rico in the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture in San Juan, Puerto Rico.[3]
See also
- Corsican immigration to Puerto Rico
- French immigration to Puerto Rico
- German immigration to Puerto Rico
- Irish immigration to Puerto Rico
- Spanish immigration to Puerto Rico
References
- ^ Ponce, Ciudad Senorial: La ciudad es conocida como la Perla del Sur: Desarrollo Economico y Cultural de Ponce: Un buen ejemplo del desenvolvimiento de Puerto Rico en el Siglo XIX. El Nuevo Dia. "Historia de Puerto Rico." Collectible No. 24. 3 July 2007. Page 3. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
- ^ a b c Real Cédula de 1789 "para el comercio de Negros"
- ^ a b Archivo General de Puerto Rico: Documentos Archived 2007-10-18 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ https://www.genealogy.com/forum/regional/countries/topics/croatia/3706/
