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Tributo y Ciudadanía en Potosí, Bolivia : Consentimiento y libertad entre los ayllus de la Provincia de Porco, 1830-1840

This article examines the pre-conditions for indian citizenship in newly-independent Potosí, Bolivia. With indian cabildos and town municipalities abolished by the Bolivarian Constitution, the literacy condition of citizenship was postponed in 1826, but in the 1830s literacy programmes were launched which only benefitted the mestizo towns. Local government and tribute collection were assigned to new Republican authorities, who were to receive the percentage of tribute previously retained by indian collectors. Indian protest and entrenchment in face of abuse led them to prefer a democracy based on local consent, rather than the exclusive freedoms of a remote créole idea of citizenship.