Lesson 2_The 19th Century as Rizal's Context PDF

The 19 TH Century as Rizal’s Context How Did Rizal Became Who He Was? The 19 th Century Birth of Modernity  The term modernity emphasizes the break from traditional ways of life and the emergence of new ideas, attitude, and institutions that marked the transition to new...

The 19 TH Century as Rizal’s Context How Did Rizal Became Who He Was? The 19 th Century Birth of Modernity  The term modernity emphasizes the break from traditional ways of life and the emergence of new ideas, attitude, and institutions that marked the transition to new era.  Before The 19th Century Monarchy Democracy  Before The 19th Century Feudalism Capitalism  Before The 19th Century Passively-Accepting Reform-Minded The 19 th Century Part of Age of Revolution During 19th century, the industrial revolution was taking place.  New modes of production, transportation, and communication were introduced. Bringing about shift from manual labor to machine-based production. This transformation of the economy and society resulted in new forms of work and leisure, as well as urbanization and growth of the cities.  This era was characterized by various political upheavals, including the American Revolution and the French Revolution  The 19th Century encompasses a new way of thinking about the world and one’s place in it, characterized by an increased focus on individualism, rationality, and the belief in progress and the ability to shape the world through scientific, technological, and social advancement. Economical Condition  Trading was already apparent among our ancestors even before the Spaniards colonized Philippines  Early Philippine merchants traded with various countries, including China, Japan, Siam, Cambodia, India, Borneo, and the Moluccas.  The Spanish Crown saw an opportunity to profit from this trade, and eventually closed the ports of Manila to all countries except Mexico The trade monopoly emerged from this decision made Manila the center of commerce in the East On the return voyage, numerous and valuable flora and fauna were brought into the Philippines, including guava, avocado, papaya, pineapple, horses, and cattle. Mangoes from Manila, as well as tamarind, rice, carabao, Chinese Tea, textiles, fireworks, perfume, precious stones, and tuba(a coconut wine), were sent to Mexico Spain became a mercantilist superpower. BUT NOT FOREVER. WHY?  1 By the late 18th century, the Galleon system faced tough competitions as other nations became self-sufficient and preferred direct trade. Spain’s trading system and the demand for Asian goods eventually declined.  2 Spain was heavily dependent on the silver mines of its colonies in South America, which slowly dwindled. The value of silver also declined due to the increased in production of the silver in the Americas, reducing the profit of Margins of Galleon Trade merchants.  3 Revolts, particularly in the War for independence in Mexico, took place in the New World, this shifting the focus on priority of consumers away from trade.  The economic opportunities created by the Industrial Revolution had encouraged Spain in 1834 to open the Philippine economy to world commerce.  Cash Crop Agriculture Is a type of farming where crops are grown primarily for sale rather than for personal or local consumption.  British, Dutch and American trading companies invested large capital in the country for the large-scale production of different products, such as tobacco and sugar. To make transactions easier, foreign investors need people who are already in the Philippines, such as Chinese, mestizos, and rich natives. They help them with the acquisitions of lands, mobilization of labor, transportation of crops, and retail trade.  Chinese immigrants served as middlemen between the provinces, where the crops were planted, and the merchant houses of the Mestizos in Manila.  Rich natives became tenants, known as ‘Inquilinos’ in Spanish. When the Suez Canal, an artificial sea-level waterway, was opened, the distance of travel between Europe and the Philippines was considerably shortened.  From this, positive effects took place as the industrial revolution contributed many things to the people. 1 The Philippines was opened for world commerce. Foreigners were engaged in manufacturing and 2 agriculture. The Philippine economy became dynamic and 3 balanced.  From this, positive effects took place as the industrial revolution contributed many things to the people. There was rise of new influential and wealthy 4 Filipino middle class. People were encouraged to participate in the 5 trade. Migration and increase in population were 6 encouraged. WHAT DOES ALL OF THIS HAVE TO DO WITH RIZAL?  The fast tempo of economic progress in the Philippines during the 19th century facilitated by Industrial Revolution resulted to the rise to a new breed of rich and influential Filipino middle class.  This made the inquilino class wealthy, which include the Rizal patriarch, the family of Mercado. The family Mercado became one of the most affluent family in Calamba.  When Rizal’s Chinese ancestor Domingo Lam-co had come to the Binan hacienda in mid-eighteen century, the average holding of an Inquilino was 2.9 hectares.  After Rizal’s father had moved to the Calamba hacienda, the Rizal family in the 1890s rented from the hacienda over 290 hectares. Social Condition  Education is considered a status symbol. Only a few people, usually those with Spanish blood, have the opportunity to experience college education. This privileged people belong to the highest racial class. Spanish Racial Hierarchy Peninsulares Creoles or Insulares Mestizos Native Filipinos Indios  The highest class is the Peninsulares – pure-blooded Spaniards who were born in the Iberian Peninsula, such as Spain. They were the officials and friars who had the power and authority to rule over the Filipinos.  Insulares were the specific term given to creoles (full-blooded Spaniards born in the colonies) born in the Philippines or the Marianas.  Mestizos, or colloquially Tisoy, is a name used to refer to people of mixed native Filipino and any foreign ancestry.  Indios, a term used to refer to the poor people of the country who were viewed as inferior and treated as second class citizens.  The Spanish colonial government’s discrimination against Indios limited their opportunities and social mobility.  Spanish blood was highly valued during the Spanish colonial era, and as Spanish blood disappeared, so did all the privileges that came with it. While wealthy families like the Rizal's were able to send their children to study in prestigious schools.  ILLUSTRADOS ILLUSTRADOS A group of educated Ilustrados mean natives who sought "erudite," "learned," or freedom and "enlightened ones." independence from Spanish rule. ILLUSTRADOS One of their aims was to be in the same level with the proud Spaniards. Cultural Condition A key factor in the emergence of nationalism in the late nineteenth century was the cultural development consequent on the rapid spread of education from about 1860.  Let us examine the educational reforms that happened in the mid-19th century.  Schools need to focus on teaching skilled labor, 1 as that is what the economy needs. The Industrial Revolution necessitated changes in the education system of the Philippines. Before this, schools had religious and strict control from the friars. It can even be summed up in three words: inadequate, suppressive, and controlled.  Children were taught to fear God over basic literacy and to obey the friars instead of learning how to count. They were instilled with the belief that they were inferior to others and were only capable of doing manual work. This educational system will no longer work to keep up with the modernizing world.  The Educational Decree of 1863. 2 This was a significant attempt by the Spanish colonial government to address the lack of formal education among Filipinos. It mandated the establishment of a public school system throughout the country and required each town to have at least one primary school for boys and girls, which was to be supported by the municipal funds and supervised by the local government.  This decree marked the beginning of formal education in the Philippines and opened up educational opportunities to a wider segment of society, including the middle and lower class. Despite the challenges, the Education Decree of 1863 was an important step toward the democratization of education in the Philippines and the foundation of the development of a formal education system in the country.  The return of the Jesuits was a significant event 3 that influenced the educational system in the Philippines. When the Jesuits returned to the Philippines, they returned with ideas and methods new to the educational system. In 1865, Ateneo (which was led by Jesuits) transformed into a secondary school that offered a level of instruction beyond the official requirements, more closely resembling today's college than high school. ❖ Alongside Latin and Spanish, subjects such as Greek, French, and English were also taught. ❖ Literature, Science, Philosophy, and Natural Science were also given an emphasis. ❖ Although the Spanish Jesuits may not have intended to do so, their teachings broadened the perspectives of their Filipino students, and many of them drew their own conclusions from these principles. ❖ While the Ateneo did not directly teach nationalism or liberal principles of equality, its emphasis on humanistic education in literature, science, and philosophy, as well as the principles of human dignity, justice, and equality for all men, undermined the foundations of the Spanish colonial regime. ❖ It was in these secondary schools that the ideas of nationalism began to emerge. As Rizal once said in a letter, "The Jesuits have surely not intended to teach us love of country, but they have shown us all that is beautiful and all that is best.”  This growing sense of nationalism would ultimately pave the way for significant political developments, including the pursuit of greater democracy. Political Condition During Rizal's time, there were widespread calls for democracy in the Philippines. ❖ To understand why, we need to look back again to the 16th century. Despite the teachings of Christianity, which emphasized equality among all people, the Spanish colonial authorities did not treat brown-skinned Filipinos equally. ❖ When Spanish missionaries introduced Christianity, they taught that all men are equal before God. Most Filipinos (except the hinterland of Luzon and the Visayas and in Mindanao and Sulu) became Christians. And throughout the next three centuries, Spaniards used religion to justify their malicious behaviors: ❖ Forced Labor? For God. ❖ Cultural Suppression? For God. ❖ Conquest and violence? For God. ❖ During Rizal’s time, the court of justice in the Philippines was notoriously corrupt. ❖ The Spanish fiscals (prosecuting attorneys) and other court officials were unjust, partial, and oftentimes ignorant of the law. ❖ Brown Filipinos were often treated unfairly, and justice was costly, partial, and slow. ❖ The poor had no access to the courts due to the heavy expense of litigation, while the rich and those with white skin color were favored in court.  The Church played a significant role in the state’s proceedings, manipulating the indigenous people to comply with the state’s laws as it saw fit.  In addition, the money collected from the natives was not used to improve their province, but rather for the self- betterment of the officials.  That’s precisely how Rizal, Ilustrados, and other Filipinos who were exposed to liberal ideas felt when they witnessed such injustices. They viewed Spain as regressive, incompatible, and the main reason why the country was not progressing.  This motivated people to follow suit. Filipino reformists like Rizal were inspired by the revolution to pursue freedom and independence for the country.  The thirst for reform and nationalism flourished in the liberal atmosphere, and, to make a long story short, this led to the Philippine Independence movement and the death of Rizal.  The cries for democracy during Rizal’s time were a result of the long-standing injustices and corruption of the Spanish colonial authorities, who used religion to justify their actions. The call for democracy was a call for equality, justice, and fairness for all Filipinos, regardless of their skin color or social status.  THANK YOU Prepared by: Ayessa Marie Reyes