The American decrees of the Cortes of Cádiz, 1810-1811

In its first year the besieged parliament at Cádiz declared the dominions of both hemispheres one nation whose overseas natives held rights equal to peninsulars', forbade anyone in ecclesiastical, civil or military authority to afflict an Indian in person or property, and extended exemption from tribute to the indios and castas of all America. The same decrees excluded the castas from the land of the pueblos de indios and drew Indian community funds into a war loan.