What were the bourbon reforms?

The Bourbon Reforms were a series of administrative and economic policies implemented in the 18th century by the Bourbon monarchy in Spain, particularly under King Charles III. Aimed at modernizing and centralizing the Spanish Empire, these reforms sought to increase royal control over colonial economies, enhance tax revenues, and reduce the power of local elites. They included changes in trade regulations, the establishment of new administrative units, and military reforms, which ultimately contributed to tensions in the colonies that fueled movements for independence.