The Jesuit Expulsion: A Double-Edged Sword for State Authority in New Spain

Abstract

We examine the short- and longer-term consequences of the expulsion of the Jesuit order from New Spain in 1767. The Jesuits had been critical partners of the Spanish Crown in the expansion and stabilization of colonial rule, but royal officials eventually became suspicious of the order's economic and political power and their ability to resist imperial authority. Though authorities believed that expelling the Jesuits would bolster the power, resources, and authority of the colonial state, we show that it had ambiguous short-term and more unfavorable longer-term consequences on these outcomes. The expropriation of Jesuit assets provided a resource boost for the Crown, but the benefit was partially offset by the additional burdens of replacing Jesuit institutions and pacifying unrest caused by the expulsion. The legacy of 1767 proved more damaging over the longer term as affected areas saw more insurgent activity during Mexico's War of Independence (1810--1821). This case highlights both the benefits and hidden dangers of relying on religious intermediaries to extend political control.