Disagreements among the bourgeoisie of Gipuzkoa about free trade and the transfer of customs from 18th to 19th centuries

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to demonstrate and to analyse the disagreements and the variety of opinions among the core of the bourgeoisie in Gipuzkoa, throughout the Ancient Regime, about the faculty of Basque ports to trade directly with American colonies and the transfer of the customs from the interior to the coast. So that, we will turn to the vast historiography focused on the issue and we will make a critical analysis of several reports sent by dissident merchants, to deepen into the debate about both topics, which developed from the beginning of the 18^th century to decree of 1841. Despite the univocal approach that Basque historiography has carried out, according to what only two blocks, perfectly different from each other, took part, the archival sources show a bigger diversity of the standpoints. Consequently, some disagreements and divisions can be notice inside the bourgeoisie. Although it is true that at the beginning of the debate these two blocks had a belligerent discourse, and despite there were some common agreements, as time went on, as a result of new political and economical circumstances of within Basque history, their positions became more radical and diverse, building a major diversity.