Final answer:
By the late 1700s, the wealthiest and most influential of Spain's colonial societies saw the Spanish government as an impediment to growth and prosperity due to strict trade controls, fiscal reforms and taxation, and the colony's lack of political autonomy.
Step-by-step explanation:
By the late 1700s, the wealthy and influential classes in Spain's colonial societies had indeed come to see the Spanish government as (C) an impediment to growth and prosperity. This perspective was shaped by several factors:
- Strict trade control: Spain exercised severe control over colonial commerce. It controlled much of the silver production and held several monopolies that negatively impacted the colonies' economic potential.
- Fiscal reforms and taxation: The Bourbon dynasty imposed various economic reforms, including more efficient tax collection. This affected local producers and traders, stunting the growth of the colonial economy.
- Political dominance: The Spanish government offered little in terms of autonomy to its colonies. The colonists, consequently, began to feel that they could govern themselves more effectively without the Spanish government's interference.
In conclusion, these measures, intended to increase Spain's own wealth and power, were viewed by the colonists as infringing on their own economic and political development.
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