1789: The Spanish monarchy issued a decree allowing the free entry of foreign ships to Spanish colonial ports, effectively making unlicensed arrivals of capt…

1789: The Spanish monarchy issued a decree allowing the free entry of foreign ships to Spanish colonial ports, effectively making unlicensed arrivals of captives legal. This policy of free trade replaced the centuries-old asiento system, which had restricted the supply of labor to specific contract holders. The shift was intended to stimulate the economic development of colonies like Cuba and Puerto Rico by ensuring a more consistent and affordable supply of labor. As a result, the volume of African arrivals in Spanish America saw a significant and sustained increase in the following decades.