The Liberal Reform - 8th Grade an important income for the State, therefore, it was

Worksheet up to the López government to implement the law

that allowed the freedom of cultivation and
exploitation of tobacco in the country.

The liberalization of tobacco made it possible to

By the middle of the 19th century, much of the world
overcome the colonial mono-export structure,
was in the heat of the various waves of reformism,
since together with the establishment of steam
with special influence from the French Revolution of
navigation on the Magdalena River, it triggered a
1848, and our country was not only no exception,
rapid phase of commercial expansion that
but also took the reforms a little further. In this
included other products: “By 1854/58, tobacco
regard, the British historian Eric Hobsbawm (2014)
represented already 28% of exports, while gold,
comments: "No one liberalized more radically than
without substantially reducing its value,
the Republic of New Granada (Colombia) between
decreased its share of foreign sales from 75 to
1848 and 1854" (p. 50). These reforms were
33%. Quinoa and straw hats each represented
undertaken mainly by the first generation born after
almost 10% of exports during these years.”
independence, a group of young people, mostly law
(Melo, 1988, p. 140). On the other hand, the
students from the Colegio San Bartolomé, who
colonial system maintained a series of
would make up the vanguard sector (nicknamed
restrictions on the free commercialization of
gólgota) of the newly created Liberal Party (1848).
properties and labor force, for which censuses
Salvador Camacho Roldán, one of the protagonists
were eliminated, being a patrimonial burden on
of this revolution, explains its intention: "The
urban and rural properties (it was a typical tax of
triumphant Liberal Party in the elections of 1848 and
the colonial agrarian economy ). Mayorazgos,
1849 had wanted to carry out in a short space all the
an institution that limited the free alienability of
unfulfilled promises of Independence" (Arteta, 1996 ,
property, were also eliminated. This
page 113).
immobilization of inherited property facilitated
the maintenance of the estate.
The economic structure of the country preserved the
structure bequeathed by the Spanish Metropolis,
The reforms were not limited to the economic
therefore, eliminating this series of prohibitions and
sphere, since the search for political freedoms
regulations was one of the main objectives of the
was also part of the liberal agenda, therefore, it
revolution. These reforms were carried out by
tried to vindicate the ideals of the Próceres and
Manuel Murillo Toro (1816-1880), who held the
Patriots of Independence, in such a way that the
position of Secretary of the Treasury (1849-1853),
persistence of a institution such as slavery was
and promoted the Revenue Decentralization Law
incompatible with the liberal and republican
(1850), which gave the provinces control of the
ideals defended, since despite the fact that the
tithes, spirits, fifths and gold smelting rights, thus
freedom of the wombs was decreed in 1821, the
taking the first steps towards the establishment of
children of the slaves, who according to the law
the federal system, causing the province of
were free, continued under the domination of the
Antioquia to decide to deepen liberalization, by
masters of their parents, in such a way that on
allowing total freedom of gold trade without any
May 21, 1851 it was decreed that as of January
contribution, in addition , almost all provinces
1, 1852 all slaves of the Republic of New
abolished fifths and tithes (Ocampo, 2010). Among
Granada would be free, in addition, slaves from
the economic reforms, the abolition of the tobacco
other countries who would arrive in the nation as
monopoly stands out as the most significant. This
well they would be, likewise, arrangements were
was decreed during the government of Tomás
made to bring New Granadan slaves who had
Cipriano de Mosquera (1845-1849), however, it was
been sold in Peru. By then there were still
implemented until 1850 due to fear of emptiness.
26,000 slaves in the Tascón country (2005),
that would allow the treasury to stop collecting such
however, the slave reaction was immediate, it
was the main cause of the short civil war of
1851.
On the other hand, the Catholic Church was a
fairly privileged institution during the mandate of
the Spanish Crown, in such a way that the
clergy was also the object of anti-colonial
attacks, for example, on May 18, 1850, the
decree was promulgated that He expelled the
Jesuits. This order was executed by President
López, the decision was influenced by the
pressure exerted by the Democratic Society of
Artisans (political club that exerted an important
influence in the election of López) and the
majority of Congress. The liberal slogan was
"the free Church, in the free State, for which the
abolition of ecclesiastical jurisdiction was
ordered, that is, the legal privilege of the clergy
was ended, which caused them to be subject to
ordinary law, In addition, state authorities were
prohibited from forcing the fulfillment of religious
vows, these measures being a prelude to the
separation between State and Church that the
Constitution of 1853 would proclaim.
The reforms of the mid-century liberal revolution
were cemented with the 1853 Constitution,
under the presidency of José María Obando,
where the principles of guaranteeing individual
rights were expressed and paved the way for the
establishment of the federation, a system of
organization territory that would deepen with the
Constitution of 1858, and that would finally be
established with that of Rionegro (1863), the
latter being the maximum expression of the
ideology of the Golgotha ​liberals, later
nicknamed radicals, which would culminate in
the creation of the United States of Colombia
(1863-1886). In conclusion, the mid-century
liberal revolution gave a vigorous impetus to the
change of institutions and reforms that were
carried out in the first republican years,
progressive reforms, which due to various
reasons, such as the gigantic external debt
acquired during the Liberation Campaign or the
fear of the reaction of those who would lose their
old privileges, had stalled. In such a way that it
was up to this first generation of the republic to
finish the work that their parents had undertaken
with so much effort. In such a way that the
reformism undertaken since the middle of the
19th century began a broad period of
transformations in the structure of the country,
giving way to the so-called liberal hegemony
(1849-1886), a period in which the colonial
structure inherited from Spain was demolished. ,
thus fulfilling the promises that were made 200
years ago with blood and fire in the fields of
Boyacá.
Activity.
1. Let’s suppose you are a time traveller,
write a letter to your future self in which
you explain the main characteristics why
the liberal reform started.
2. Create a journal entry of 100 words in
which you explain the concept of reform
as in the previously explained concept.
3. What was the role Economy played in
the confirmation of an authentique
reformation?
4. How would you explain a person that
has no knowledge of the history of our
country the concept of the liberal
reform?
5. Would you consider the consequences
of the reform positive or negative? Why?
Write a 150 words text.
6. Create a cause and effect graphic
organizer in which you explain the most
important causes and effects of the
liberal reform.
7. With a partner held a 5 minutes
discussion in which you establish your
point of view on the liberal reform.
8. After you complete the discussion, take
notes on the main important points your
partner has said and then compare
them with yours. With this information
create a Venn’s Diagram.
9. Create a map of the Republic of New
Granada and identify on it the main
geographical features identified during
the previous passage.
10. Create a comic in which you explain the
consequences of the Liberal Reform.
11. Create a cardboard presentation in
which you explain the liberal reform.