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<img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.kahimyang.com/resources/tobacco-plantation-t.webp"  alt="Tobacco Plantation" />
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The tobacco monopoly was arranged by Governor Basco y Vargas in pursuance of a royal order of February 9, 1780. Although opposed by certain classes, especially the friars, the monopoly was organized by March 1, 1782, and approved by royal order May 15, 1784.  
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<p>
With the monopoly in place,  no man might raise or sell a single leaf of tobacco without first having permission from the government. 
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<p>
Before the monopoly, anybody who wished to do so might raise as much tobacco as he could, and might sell it when and as he pleased. All this was  changed. The farmers who had good tobacco land were compelled to raise this crop, or else forfeit the use of their land and its products for a term of years. If a man refused to plant tobacco, his land was taken from him for three years, and another man might cultivate it. A law was also passed compelling the tobacco planters and laborers to work on the crop whenever labor was needed. 
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June 25, 1881: a Royal decree was issued abolishing the tobacco monopoly in the Philippines