Compare and contrast political organization in Spanish America and British North America.

The question requires that candidates give an account of the similarities and differences between Spanish and British colonial governments in North America, in terms of political organization, referring to both throughout. The two colonial governments may or may not have been contemporaneous with each other. Candidates may refer to how both Spain and Britain held ultimate authority over their colonies. Still, they may argue that political organization in Spanish America was directed from the Council of the Indies in Spain, while greater decentralization in British North America resulted in greater local political participation. Candidates may nevertheless address some local political organization in Spanish America with adelantados and cabildos. Candidates may also argue that there was division of power in British America, while power in Spanish America was more concentrated. Still, British property or royal colonies saw less division of power, and justice systems were set up in both British and Spanish America. Both similarities and differences must be clearly indicated but there does not need to be an equal number of each.

The question required candidates to give an account of the similarities and differences between Spanish and British colonial governments in North America, in terms of political organization. When the question was addressed, the responses were mostly descriptive and attempts at comparison and contrast were poorly structured and weakly supported.