Ideas y políticas migratorias españolas a fines del Antiguo Régimen: el caso astur-galaicodel Antiguo Régimen: el caso astur-galaico

Abstract

By the end of the 18th century, the departures of Galicians and Asturians to America or different points of the Iberian Peninsula increased. In the context of the predominance of a poblacionista mentality, such movements were generally perceived in a negative way. However, there were voices that emphasized their positive effects. According with these different ideas, the Spanish Crown’s migration policies showed a certain ambiguity: on one hand, they tended to restrict and control the emigrations, and on the other, they finished encouraging them. In this last direction, the colonists´ expeditions as well as the army were employed as ways of settlement.