Bogotanian artisans and anti-liberalism 1832-1836

Abstract

Most historians interpret the political situation of the artisans in the XIX century in Colombia like that of a social group which was compelled to take part in politics, because the pressure of the economic policies of free trade tendency. This thesis has been sustained on the basis of the artisan societies that were created since 1838 on, against the policies of the government. In spite of this common thesis, I dare say that even though the artisans protested by brandishing arguments against the free trade, nevertheless their political activity took place without knowing the real implications of the free trade concerning their own production. I will demonstrate this thesis of mine by focusing my study on the situation of the artisans in Bogotá, particularly the period between 1832 and 1836; in this period the "rst riot against the free trade took place in the XIX century in Bogotá. My arguments shall sustain that the custom laws reforms were protectionist essentially, and despite that the artisans protested against the free trade. I will also put under evidence that the artisan¿s products for the home market did not compete with the foreign products.

Keywords

• Free trade
• artisans
• protectionism
• Bogotá
• the XIX century