Discuss the reasons for the introduction of the Pombaline reforms in Portuguese America.

Candidates will offer a considered and balanced review of the motives for the introduction of the Pombaline reforms by reference to the political, economic and social issues the reforms were intended to address in Portuguese America. Political reasons might include desire for centralization of power, need to reform the judicial system, difficulty in defence of the frontier and concerns with the influence of religious orders. Social issues might address efforts to populate unoccupied regions as well as the integration of the indigenous and the white population. Economic motives may include the concern over problems with contraband and declining tax revenues, the impact of trade restrictions between the colonies and Portugal and the need to address underdevelopment in some regions by replacing the economic structure of religious orders with state-chartered monopolies.