Joseph continued, "To preserve the empire's influence in South America, the most important thing is to break the Creoles' monopoly over local politics." Carlos IV and the others immediately nodded repeatedly.
Yes, though the officials in the South American colonies seemed to all be Peninsulares sent from Madrid, it was the far more numerous Creoles who were the true administrators there.
Any decree issued by a colonial Governor ultimately had to pass through the Creoles before it could reach the Mixed-Blood, Indians, and Blacks and be carried out—the colony's landowners, estate owners, craftsmen, even lawyers and clerks, more than ninety percent of them were Creoles. Thus, this group was what gave Spain's government the greatest headache.
Meeting their eager, inquisitive gazes, Joseph smiled. "The method is actually very simple: use the ideals of Freedom and Equality, which the Creoles admire most, to win over the more numerous Mixed-Blood, and even the Indians, thereby dividing the Creoles' influence."
Count Floridablanca's eyes widened. "You mean appoint Mestizos as officials? Indians are probably out of the question. They're merely uncivilized savages..."
Joseph shook his head. "The more uncivilized they are, the easier they are to manage. You must remember that their numbers are vast. By the Creoles' own principles, 'all people are equal,' so the Mixed-Blood and Indians should likewise hold seats in Parliament—and would very likely occupy the majority of them. At the same time, the Mixed-Blood and Indians lack a political foundation. They must rely on Madrid's support to keep the Creoles from taking their positions..."
Carlos IV suddenly interrupted him, his face full of shock. "Wait, you want me to establish a Parliament in New Granada?!"
"Indeed," Joseph said as though it were only natural. "It is the quickest way to gain the support of everyone in the Colony."
"No,