ROSALINAS, MARICAR A. MS.

SHARMAINE AQUINO
BA HISTORY3B INSTRUCTOR

RIZAL’S LIFE AND WORKS

Describe the economy and society during 19th century.

The 19th century described as international changes in fields of arts, politics, philosophy,
religion and economy as well as the society.

During the 19th century, the Philippines’ economic condition gave rise to Haciendas or
the “cash-crop economy”. Where large parts of lands would be used for crops considered as
cash-crop. Some cash-crops are: Sugar, Tobacco, Abaca, and Coffee. Being open to world trade
and having these products abundant in the Philippines, the Philippines became a major exporter
for these products and became well-known in other parts of the world. By these events, there was
a shift from barter system to moneyed economy.

With the promulgation of the hacienda system, feudalism in the Philippines fully
developed and the self-sufficient economy was gradually being replaced by a money-based
economy. Filipino society began to move towards the semifeudal system from feudalism.
Commodity production and the exchange revived. The seed of capitalism sprouted in feudal
society. The sprouting of new species also appeared in the more advanced social system.

The Filipino proletariat clearly spawned in the 19th century. They are workers in
railways, ships, ports, sugar mills, tobacco and cigarette factories, printing, distilleries, foundries,
trading houses and so on. They came from many farmers who were deprived of land and went
bankrupt. They also included many artisans and craftsmen who lost their jobs.

In the 19th century, Spain opened the Philippines up to international trade and, in
connection with it, to pervasive ideas in Europe. In 1834 the ports of Manila were opened and
from 1855 to 1873, six more ports were opened. In 1869 the Suez Canal was opened, shortening
the travel time from Europe to the Philippines. As a result, farming in the Philippines has shifted
from its former self-consumption to the export of cash crops such as tobacco, sugar, and hemp.
The associated economic growth has enriched other Filipinos. Many of them have studied in
Manila and abroad.

The 19th Century gave birth to the middle class, the lands became the primary source of
wealth because of the cash-crops, and being able to afford constructions; it gave rise to
technological interconnections among the separated islands of the Philippines. The Philippines’
regional diversity became interconnected by railroads, steam ships, and advance in
communication. Literacy was also considered a weapon by the Filipinos – a weapon for
decolonization.
ROSALINAS, MARICAR ARAS
BA HISTORY3B

The 19th century considered as an era of profound change in the Philippines. During this
period, vast economic, political, social and cultural currents were felt. To better facilitate the
envisioned reorientation of the economy, Basco established the Royal Philippine Company in
1785 to finance agricultural projects and manage the new trade being established between the
Philippines and Spain as well as other Asian Markets.

These changes however were met with lukewarm reception, Manila was opened to world
trade by 1834, that result can cause foreign merchants and traders eventually resided in Manila
and took over the role of financing and facilitating the burgeoning agricultural cash crop, export-
oriented, economy. The rapid development of the economy began to flow in the Philippines
through cash crops, by the first half of 19th century majority of the exports of the Philippines
came from cash crops like tobacco, sugar, cotton, indigo, abaca and coffee. The farmers felt the
pressure of the economy while the hacenderos grabbed the opportunity, for example when a
small landowner needed capital and money, he would engage in a pacto de retroventa, an
agreement of sale guaranteering that he could buy the land back at the same price.

Furthermore, the Chinese proved to be “necessary outsiders” in Philippine colonial

economy and society, Chinese mestizos assumed an important role in the economy they
influenced the changing economy in the 19th century by purchasing land, accumulating wealth
and influence. It also the 19th century gave a birth to many schools that addressed the growing
demand for more professionals, the complex nature of the developing economy also allowed the
government to intensify bureaucratization ad to streamline colonial governance, Literacy was
also considered a weapon by the Filipinos – a weapon for decolonization.The Philippine society
felt the impact of the developing economy, as a result, social underwent redefinitions and the
changing dynamics brought about a renegotiation of social stratification, the peninsular, insular,
mestzo, principalia,indio and chino infiel.