<P> The bulk of the changes in Spanish America came in the second half of the 18th century following the visita general ( general inspection ) of New Spain ( 1765 -- 1771 ) by José de Gálvez , who was later named Minister of the Indies . The reforms attempted in New Spain were implemented elsewhere in Spanish America subsequently . There had been one earlier reform in the creation of the new Viceroyalty of New Granada ( 1717 ) , carved out from the Viceroyalty of Peru to improve the administration of the overseas possessions . The new viceroyalty was created initially in 1717 , suppressed just six years later , and then permanently established in 1739 , still earlier than the reforms of the late 18th century . It was an administrative change that reflected the recognition ( as early as the 16th century ) that the northern area of South America had certain challenges of distance from Peru . There had been earlier creations of captaincies general in Guatemala and Venezuela , marking an increase in their importance . In 1776 , a second jurisdiction , the Viceroyalty of Rio de la Plata was also carved out of the Viceroyalty of Peru in 1776 as part of José de Gálvez 's comprehensive administrative reform . In the same year , an autonomous captaincy general was also established in Venezuela . </P>
the minister of the indies responsible for the 18th century reforms within the spanish empire was
José de Gálvez