La exoneración de la Contribución personal de indígenas en Cuenca (1837-1856)

Abstract

The Personal Contribution of Indians was one of the main tax revenues for the Republic of Ecuador during the early nineteenth century. For this reason, this research topic has been proposed relating the role of the laws aimed at guaranteeing the exoneration of this tax burden, as well as the direct influence on the incorporation of the indigenous as a new citizen with rights. In the same way, it is intended to highlight certain cases that were judicialized by the local authorities to determine if they met the requirements to be exonerated from the personal contribution. From this, the particularity and the elements that were required for each case are evidenced. In this sense, this historical work intends to use a qualitative methodology through the selection of primary sources (archives) as the main support to have a better approach to the reality during this period. Similarly, the research that has emerged on the subject will allow us to understand in a general way the characteristics of the period and the role of the different actors. With this study proposal we intend to approach the cases of exoneration of indigenous people in Cuenca during the period 1837-1856. This is to demonstrate the importance of the personal contributions of the indigenous communities to the economy of the nascent Republic of Ecuador.