Why did the 18th century reform efforts provoke colonial resistance?

The 18th century reform was all about power and control. The people wanted to take control of the land, government and people. It was a fight against the Spanish and the colonial resistances the take over. They worked hard to build their land and farm their crops and did not want anyone coming in to take over. The fighting continued and many died.

If you are referring to the Bourbon reforms of Spain, it provoked resistance because it reduced the colonial autonomy of the Spanish colonies which caused anger with wealthy people who lived in the colonies and who wanted to be free to do as they did before in their land. This caused much strife between the Spanish crown which was the highest authority in Spain and the colonies who wanted to be free to have this new rich nobility to make the laws as they saw fit. Many of them were even Spaniards who just wanted wealth.