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The Escuela de la Concordia (Spanish for the "School of Concord" or "Agreement"), also known as the Patriotic Society of the Friends of the Country of Quito (Spanish: Sociedad Patriótica de Amigos del País de Quito) was an influential society in Spanish South America during the 1790s. It was centered in Quito, the capital of the Royal Audience of Quito, but also had members in Bogota, Guayaquil, Riobamba, and Ibarra. It promoted Enlightenment thought and nationalism in the discussion of regional affairs and is seen as a precursor to Quitonian independence as the Republic of Ecuador.

History

The society was inspired by the "Discourse to the Illustrious and Loyal City of Quito" published by the Quitonian native Dr. Eugenio de Santa Cruz y Espejo during his visit to the viceregal capital Bogota in 1789.

The society was founded two years later as the "Patriotic Society of the Friends of the Country" by 23 creoles and mestizos who met at the University of St Gregory the Great (now Quito's Metropolitan Cultural Center) on 30 November 1791. They pledged to meet once a week to address issues concerning education, science, agriculture, commerce, politics, and the arts. The Patriotic Society soon became better known by Espejo's earlier name, the Escuela de la Concordia. Under his editorship, it published the audience's first newspaper Primicias de la Cultura de Quito in 1792.

The group had expected royal approval but this was rejected via official decree on 11 November 1793. The group ceased official activity shortly thereafter, with Espejo's death ending the last of its operations by 1796.

Members

Legacy

Although the School of Concord was short-lived, it has been remembered in Ecuadorian history as an important precursor and harbinger of the local resistance that established Ecuador's independence over the next few decades and transferred political power from the Spanish to local creole elites.

See also

• History of Ecuador
• Economic Societies of the Friends of the Country

Notes

1. Fully, the "Discourse to the Very Illustrious and Very Loyal City of Quito, Represented by its Illustrious Cabildo, Judiciary, and Regiment and to All Gentlemen Resolved on the Erection of a Patriotic Society on the Necessity of its Establishment, Later, with the title of 'School of Concord'" (Spanish: Discurso dirigido a la muy ilustre y muy leal ciudad de Quito, representada por su ilustrísimo Cabildo, Justicia y Regimiento, y a todos los señores socios provistos a la erección de una Sociedad Patriótica, sobre la necesidad de establecerla, luego, con el título de “Escuela de la Concordia”).
2. The relevant text read that "Disapproving that you have begun the establishment of the aforementioned Society, Friends of the Country, without having earlier received my royal approval under the laws that prohibit such groups without this circumstance, I resolve that I command your exercise is suspended pending my royal determination" (Desaprobando hubieseis puesto en ejecución el establecimiento de la referida Sociedad amigos del país, sin que hubiese precedido mi Real aprobación con arreglo a las leyes que prohíben toda junta sin esta circunstancia, he resuelto que como os mando se suspenda su ejercicio hasta mi Real determinación.).

References

Citations

1. ^ Rodríguez Castelo (1995), p. 143.
2. Federico González Suárez

Bibliography

• "Ecuador" , Encyclopædia Britannica, 9th ed., Vol. VII, New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1878, p. 649.
• "Escuela de la Concordia", Enciclopedia del Ecuador, Especiales. (in Spanish)
• Rodríguez Castelo, Hernán (1995), Eugenio de Santa Cruz y Espejo / Primicias de la Cultura de Quito, Quito: Colegio de Periodistas de Pichincha. (in Spanish)

• 18th century in Ecuador
• 1790s in South America