Revolt of the Comuneros (New Granada)

Quick Facts: Who was Revolt of the Comuneros (New Granada)?

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Revolt of the Comuneros (New Granada)

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Popular uprising in New Granada (Colombia) against Spanish tax hikes during the Bourbon Reforms.

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Origins & Early Life

The Revolt of the Comuneros was a popular uprising in the Viceroyalty of New Granada (now Colombia and parts of Venezuela) against the Spanish authorities from March through October 1781. The revolt was in reaction to the increase in taxation to raise funds for the defense of the region against the British and a rise in the price of tobacco and brandy. These were part of the late eighteenth-century Bourbon Reforms. The initial revolt was local and not well known outside the region of Socorro, but in the late nineteenth century, historian Manuel Briceño saw the massive revolt as a precursor to independence. Prior to the 1781 revolt, residents in New Granada had protested, at times violently, against crown policy implementation there between 1740 and 1779.

Career & Major Achievements

Spain formally declared war on Britain on 21 June 1779, thus beginning the Anglo-Spanish War (1779–1783). In February 1782, Menorca fell to a combined French and Spanish fleet and with the capture of the Floridas, these constituted significant successes for Spain. However, the largest effort was devoted to the Great Siege of Gibraltar (1779–1783), which even after three years made little progress despite enormous expenditures of both money and men. The imposition of heavy taxes and "voluntary" donations to pay for the war caused unrest in much of the Spanish Empire, including the 1781 Revolt of the Comuneros (New Granada) in New Granada. In the end, the Spanish siege of Gibraltar absorbed British resources that might otherwise have been used in the Americas but left them with little to show for their investment.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

On March 16, 1781, in Socorro in northeastern Colombia, grocer Manuela Beltrán tore down posted edicts about new tax increases and other changes that would have reduced the profits of the colonists and enlarged the benefits of Spain. Many other towns in New Granada began to experience the same occurrences, with colonists livid about the conditions of the ruling government. Local residents began to assemble and elect a body of officials known as el común, or a central committee "to lead the movement." The rebels unified under the leadership of Juan Francisco Berbeo, a Criollo elite. Despite coming from the upper classes of society, the rebels introduced the idea of unifying and organising the diverse social classes comprising common people. The endorsement of the elites improved the rebels' efforts to unify, as Berbeo consolidated 10,000 to 20,000 rebel troops to march on Bogotá, the capital.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1779: 1779 Milestone — Spain formally declared war on Britain on 21 June 1779, thus beginning the Anglo-Spanish War (1779–1783).
2. 1781: 1781 Milestone — The Revolt of the Comuneros was a popular uprising in the Viceroyalty of New Granada (now Colombia and parts of Venezuela) against the Spanish authorities from March through October 1781.
3. 1782: 1782 Milestone — In February 1782, Menorca fell to a combined French and Spanish fleet and with the capture of the Floridas, these constituted significant successes for Spain.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Revolt of the Comuneros (New Granada)

True or False: “The primary goal of the Comuneros revolt was achieving immediate, full independence from Spain.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): Historians suggest the initial aim was not outright independence, but rather reversing the specific economic and political reforms imposed by the Spanish Crown.

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