Introduction - Adventure Guide to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands - page 10

life. On the coastal plain the export of hardwood and cacao beganwith
the help of slaves from Africa.
During the 1700s, recession was anchored to the sinking ship of
Spain's troubled economy. This paralleled a growing unrest among
the ruling class in Quito as they felt the effects of severe recession, es-
pecially as the Spanish crown tightened its grip in desperation.
Meanwhile, Guayaquil had already established itself as an inter-
American trade center. It was growing in strength, with liberal ideals
of freedom and independence due to free trade. This was quite con-
trary to the controlled, conservative status quo. Indigenous voices,
strengthened by the weakened obraje system (a form of indentured
servitude) increased political instability during this time. By the end
of the 18th century - partly as a result of the American Revolution,
the arrival of progressive European ideas, and rise of national liberal
intellectuals - this unrest began to show.
Independence
Major unrest in Ecuador developed primarily from the criollos ,
Spanish descendents born in the newworld, whowere not allotted the
benefits of peninsulares (original settlers). The first serious attempt
at Ecuadorian liberation in 1809, though, was actually a case of Span-
ish loyalists rebelling against Napolean's recent French control over
the (former) Spanish colony. While the movement was successful, it
was also short-lived, and colonial troops regained control within a
month. The stage, however, was set for independence. In addition to
criollo unrest, the coastal city of Guayaquil became the new voice for
liberation. The emerging middle class, born from cacao production
and trade, joined the struggle for independence that was spreading
across the continent. The leader was the Venezuelan general Simon
Bolívar . Having declared Ecuadorian independence in 1820, his
troops, led by lieutenant José de Sucre , joined the people of
Guayaquil. For two years they struggled against the Royalist army,
finally defeating them in 1822 near Quito on the PichinchaVolcano .
Ecuador's currency until September of 2000
was the Sucre, named after one of the
liberators of Ecuador, José de Sucre. This
currency was in place for over 100 years, until
the US dollar became the official currency,
though more remote areas of the country
continue to think in terms of its national
hero's namesake currency.