When the Spanish Empire set about on reforms to it's administration both in Spain proper and abroad in the New World, during the 18th century, the Crown attempted to increase the efficiency and output of it's colonies...except that it was not enough in the end. France and England still managed to eclipse the once powerful Spanish Empire during the course of the century. What went wrong? Yet more importantly, how could have the Spaniards been more successful in their colonial and administrative reforms?