The Witch Hunt at Santiago de la Monclova

Social Control and Resistance on the Northern Frontier

Deborah R. Buchholz

Outline

• Research Question

• The Northern Frontier

• Sources

• Analysis

• Conclusion and Relevance

Witchcraft as Resistance?

• Martha Few. Women who Live Evil Lives.

• Uses gender analysis to discuss women’s use of witchcraft as a challenge to patriarchy

• This challenge at the household and community level extends to the higher levels of authority

• Connections between daily forms of resistance and full-scale rebellions

• New directions

Coahuila

• Set of Inquisition Documents dated from 1748 to 1753

• Drought

• Indian Wars

Coahuila

• Set of Inquisition Documents dated from 1748 to 1753

• Drought

• Indian Wars

Other Sources

• Cheryl English Martin. Social Negotiation in Chihuahua

Patriarchy

• Laura Lewis

Unsanctioned Domain of Power

Not a challenge to Hegemony

Analysis

• Resistance to Patriarchy

• Inquisition

• Politics

Conclusions

• Further Research – Connections between daily forms of resistance and full-scale rebellion in colonial Mexico

• Relevance – Better understanding of women’s resistance today