NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Spanish colonization of the Americas

The Spanish colonization of the Americas was Spain's conquest, settlement, and rule over much of the western hemisphere from 1492-1898. Beginning with the arrival in the Western Hemisphere of Christopher Columbus in 1492, the Spanish Empire gradually expanded from early small settlements in the Caribbean over three centuries to include Central America, most of South America, Mexico, what today is Southwestern United States, the Pacific and Caribbean coasts of North America, reaching Alaska^[1]. At the beginning of the 19th century, the Spanish possessions in America began a series of independence movements, which culminated in Spain's loss of all of its colonies on the mainland of North, Central and South America by 1825. The remaining Spanish colonies of Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippines were occupied by the United States following the Spanish-American War (1898), ending Spanish rule in the Americas. The Spanish settled in many different places all over America. The geographical western hemisphere of Earth, highlighted in yellow. ... World map showing the Americas CIA political map of the Americas The Americas are the lands of the Western hemisphere or New World, consisting of the continents of North America[1] and South America with their associated islands and regions. ... Christopher Columbus (1451 â€“ May 20, 1506) was a navigator, colonizer, and explorer and one of the first Europeans to explore the Americas after the Vikings. ... Also film, 1492: Conquest of Paradise. ... An anachronous map of the overseas Spanish Empire (1492-1898) in red, and the Spanish Habsburg realms in Europe (1516-1714) in orange. ... West Indies redirects here. ... For other uses, see Central America (disambiguation). ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... Regional definitions vary from source to source. ... For other meanings of Pacific, see Pacific (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Alaska (disambiguation). ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... North America North America is a continent[1] in the Earths northern hemisphere and (chiefly) western hemisphere. ... For other uses, see Central America (disambiguation). ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... Combatants United States Republic of Cuba Philippine Republic Spain Commanders Nelson A. Miles William R. Shafter George Dewey MÃ¡ximo GÃ³mez Emilio Aguinaldo Patricio Montojo Pascual Cervera Arsenio Linares RamÃ³n Blanco Casualties 3,289 U.S. dead (432 from combat); considerably higher although undetermined Cuban and Filipino casualties...

Christopher Columbus

The Spanish Crown's search for a route across the Atlantic Ocean occurred in the context of a rivalry with Portugual to establish trade routes to Asia.^{[citation needed]} Portuguese explorers had recently been establishing new routes north along the West African coast, and it seemed likely that the Portuguese caravels would shortly reach the rich trading areas of Asia by traveling east. Columbus was able to convince the recently crowned monarchs of the Kingdom of Castille and the Kingdom of Aragon, Isabella and Ferdinand, to finance his novel idea: to reach the trading partners in Asia by traveling directly west across the Atlantic Ocean. The history of Spain spans the period from pre-historic times, through the rise and fall of the first global empire, to Spains modern-day renaissance in the post-Franco era. ... Christopher Columbus (1451 â€“ May 20, 1506) was a navigator, colonizer, and explorer and one of the first Europeans to explore the Americas after the Vikings. ... The Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa), or Portugal, is a democratic republic located on the west and southwest parts of the Iberian Peninsula in southwestern Europe. ... For other uses, see Asia (disambiguation). ... Western Africa (UN subregion) Maghreb[1] West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. ... A caravel is a small, highly maneuverable, three-masted ship used by the Spanish for long voyages of exploration beginning in the 15th century. ... Limits of the Kingdom of Castile in 1210 The Kingdom of Castile was one of the medieval kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula. ... Capital Zaragoza Area – Total – % of Spain Ranked 4th 47 719 km² 9,4% Population – Total (2003) – % of Spain – Density Ranked 11th 1 217 514 2,9% 25,51/km² Demonym – English – Spanish Aragonese aragonés Statute of Autonomy August 16, 1982 ISO 3166... Isabella of Castile (Spanish: Ysabel, Isabel or Isabela) (22 April 1451 - 26 November 1504) was queen of Castile. ... Ferdinand V of Castile & II of Aragon the Catholic (Spanish: , Catalan: , Aragonese: ; March 10, 1452 â€“ January 23, 1516) was king of Aragon (1479â€“1516), Castile, Sicily (1468â€“1516), Naples (1504â€“1516), Valencia, Sardinia and Navarre and Count of Barcelona. ...

Columbus's voyages were also taking place at the end of seven centuries of the Reconquista, in which the last Moorish kingdom on the Iberian Peninsula (in Granada) was brought under Christian control. The Native Americans, like the Moors in Spain, were for a time considered without rights as long as they were not converted to Catholicism. For other senses of this word, see Reconquista (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see moor. ... The Iberian Peninsula, or Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe, and includes modern day Spain, Portugal, Andorra and Gibraltar. ...

Columbus was made governor of the new territories and made several more journeys across the Atlantic Ocean. He profited from the labour of native slaves, whom he forced to mine gold; he also attempted to sell some slaves to Spain.^{[citation needed]} While generally regarded as an excellent navigator, he was a poor administrator and was stripped of the governorship in 1500.^{[citation needed]} Indian slavery was the practice of using indigenous peoples of the Americas as slaves, which existed with the Spanish from the earliest days on the Caribbean islands they first settled. ... GOLD refers to one of the following: GOLD (IEEE) is an IEEE program designed to garner more student members at the university level (Graduates of the Last Decade). ... 1500 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Early Caribbean settlement

The first Spanish settlements in the Americas occurred on Hispaniola. On his fourth and final voyage in 1502, Columbus encountered a large canoe off the coast of what is now Honduras filled with trade goods. He boarded the canoe and rifled through the cargo which included cacao beans, copper and flint axes, copper bells, pottery, and colorful cotton garments. He took one prisoner and what he wanted from the cargo and let the canoe continue. This was the first contact of the Spanish with the civilizations of Central America.^{[citation needed]} A Conquistador (Spanish: []) (English: Conqueror) was a Spanish soldier, explorer and adventurer who took part in the gradual invasion and conquering of much of the Americas and Asia Pacific, bringing them under Spanish colonial rule between the 15th and 19th centuries. ... â€œPizarroâ€ redirects here. ... Francisco Vásquez de Coronado (ca. ... For the Peruvian economist, see Hernando de Soto (economist). ... BartolomÃ© de las Casas This article is about a Spanish priest in the 16th century. ... Early map of Hispaniola Hispaniola (from Spanish, La EspaÃ±ola) is the second-largest and most populous island of the Antilles, lying between the islands of Cuba to the west, and Puerto Rico to the east. ... For the town in French Guiana, see Cacao, French Guiana. ... For other uses, see Copper (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Cotton (disambiguation). ...

In 1513, Vasco Núñez de Balboa crossed the Isthmus of Panama, and led the first European expedition to see the Pacific Ocean from the west coast of the New World. In an action with enduring historical import, Balboa claimed the Pacific Ocean and all the lands adjoining it for the Spanish Crown. It was 1517 before another expedition from Cuba visited Central America, landing on the coast of the Yucatán in search of slaves. This was followed by a phase of conquest. The Spaniards, just having finished a war against the Muslim Moors in the Iberian peninsula, began toppling the local American civilizations, and attempted to impose Christianity. Vasco NÃºÃ±ez De Balboa (1475â€“January 15, 1519) was a Spanish explorer, governor, and conquistador. ... The Isthmus of Panama. ... The west coast of North America consists of the modern American states of California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and arguably Alaska and parts of the Yukon. ... Location within Mexico Country Capital Municipalities 106 Government - Governor Ivonne Ortega Pacheco PRI - Federal Deputies PAN: 4 PRI: 1 - Federal Senators Hugo Laviada (PAN) Alfredo RodrÃguez (PAN) Cleominio Zoreda (PRI) Area Ranked 20th - State 38,402 kmÂ² (14,827. ... Slave redirects here. ... For other senses of this word, see Reconquista (disambiguation). ... There is also a collection of Hadith called Sahih Muslim A Muslim (Arabic: Ù…Ø³Ù„Ù…, Persian: Mosalman or Mosalmon Urdu: Ù…Ø³Ù„Ù…Ø§Ù†, Turkish: MÃ¼slÃ¼man, Albanian: Mysliman, Bosnian: Musliman) is an adherent of the religion of Islam. ... For other uses, see moor. ... The Iberian Peninsula, or Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe, and includes modern day Spain, Portugal, Andorra and Gibraltar. ... Topics in Christianity Movements Â· Denominations Â· Other religions Ecumenism Â· Preaching Â· Prayer Music Â· Liturgy Â· Calendar Symbols Â· Art Â· Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul Â· Church Fathers Constantine Â· Athanasius Â· Augustine Anselm Â· Aquinas Â· Palamas Â· Luther Calvin Â· Wesley Arius Â· Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury Â· Catholic Pope Coptic Pope Â· Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box: Christianity is...

It is important^{[attribution needed]} to distinguish between the Spanish conquest of Mexico and the Spanish conquest of Yucatán. Although the Yucatán Peninsula is part of the modern-day country of Mexico, the Spanish conquest of Mexico refers to the conquest of the Mexica/Aztec empire by Hernán Cortés from 1519–21. It is April 22, 1519, the day Hernán Cortés landed ashore and founded the city of Veracruz, that marks the beginning of almost 303 years of Spanish hegemony over the region. The Spanish conquest of Yucatán, on the other hand, refers to the conquest of the Maya states from 1551–1697. Aztec empire The Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire was one of the most important campaigns in the Spanish colonization of America. ... The Spanish Conquest of YucatÃ¡n was the campaign undertaken by the Spanish conquistadores against the Late Postclassic Maya states and polities, particularly in the northern and central YucatÃ¡n Peninsula but also involving the Maya polities of the Guatemalan highlands region. ... The YucatÃ¡n peninsula as seen from space The YucatÃ¡n Peninsula, in Southeastern Mexico, separates the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Mexico. ... Aztec is a term used to refer to certain ethnic groups of central Mexico, particularly those groups who spoke the Nahuatl language and who achieved political and military dominance over large parts of Mesoamerica in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries, a period referred to as the Late post-Classic... HernÃ¡n(do) CortÃ©s Pizarro, 1st MarquÃ©s del Valle de Oaxaca (1485â€“December 2, 1547) was the conquistador who became famous for leading the military expedition that initiated the Spanish Conquest of Mexico. ... is the 112th day of the year (113th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events March 4 - HernÃ¡n CortÃ©s lands in Mexico. ... HernÃ¡n(do) CortÃ©s Pizarro, 1st MarquÃ©s del Valle de Oaxaca (1485â€“December 2, 1547) was the conquistador who became famous for leading the military expedition that initiated the Spanish Conquest of Mexico. ... Location within Mexico Country Capital Municipalities 212 Largest City Veracruz Government - Governor Fidel Herrera BeltrÃ¡n (PRI) - Federal Deputies PRI: 6 PAN: 11 PRD: 2 Convergencia: 2 - Federal Senators PRD: 1 PAN: 1 Convergencia: 1 Area Ranked 11th - Total 71,699 kmÂ² (27,683. ... Hegemony (pronounced or ) (Greek: ) is the dominance of one group over other groups, with or without the threat of force, to the extent that, for instance, the dominant party can dictate the terms of trade to its advantage; more broadly, cultural perspectives become skewed to favor the dominant group. ... This article is about the pre-Columbian Maya civilization. ...

Columbus conquers Hispaniola

On his immediate discovery of the Taino people (one of three local Arawak-speaking indigenous groups), whom he met right after arriving on the island of Hispaniola on his first voyage, Columbus got the impression that he could conquer these people easily. In his journal he wrote, "I could conquer the whole of them with fifty men and govern them as I please" - and he proceeded to do just that.

He kidnapped some ten to twenty-five Indians and took them back to Spain. Only about seven or eight survived this journey but with the parrots, gold trinkets and other exotic loot Columbus displayed to the Spanish government he was able to persuade them into providing him with seventeen ships nearly 1,500 men, cannons, crossbows, guns, cavalry, and attack dogs for voyage.

He returned to Hispaniola and the Arawaks in 1493 demanding food, gold, spun cotton and whatever else they could get from the Indians. Cooperation was ensured by a punishment system: any minor offense by an Arawak would result in a Spaniard cutting off his ears or nose only to be sent back to the village as living, breathing, bleeding example of the work expected and the brutality the Spaniards were capable of.

The Tainos began to resist by refusing to plant for the Spanish, abandoning captured towns, etc. but over time this rebellion grew physically violent. Nonetheless the Indian "sticks and stones" were no match to the guns and harmless to the armor the Spanish wore. Columbus used this resistance by the Indians as an excuse to wage war and on March 24, 1495 the famed explorer set out to conquer this race that he thought so "inferior" and "stupid."

Naturally the Spanish won and according to Kirkpatrick Sale, who quotes Ferdinand Columbus's biography of his father: "The soldiers mowed down dozens with point-blank volleys, loosed the dogs to rip open limbs and bellies, chased fleeing Indians into the bush to skewer them on sword and pike and 'with God's aid soon gained complete victory, killing many Indians and capturing others who were also killed.

This led to a massive Spanish slave trade, in which Columbus brought back some 500 "specimens" to work as slaves in Spain while another 500 stayed as slaves for the crew left in the Americas.

Still, Columbus could not find the gold he was looking for all along. And refusing to call it slavery, Columbus resorted to this "forced labor." Indians were forced to mine for gold, raise Spanish food, and even carry the Spanish everywhere they went. And beyond these cruel acts the Spanish disrupted the culture. Forcing the Tainos to work in mines led to widespread malnutrition and furthermore, an intrusion of European livestock and diseases caused further damage.^{[citation needed]}

The Tainos often refused to participate in the new lifestyle being forced upon them by the Spanish which resulted in suicide. In addition, children were often killed as a perceived escape from a terrible life to come.^{[citation needed]}

Before Columbus's arrival, hundreds of thousands of people populated Hispaniola alone. By 1509, only 60,000 Tainos remained there. In addition to the disruption in North America, Columbus is expected to have carried a total of 5,000 slaves across the Atlantic; more than any single person in history.^{[citation needed]}

Spanish colonies expand

Areas in the Americas under Spanish control included most of South and Central America, Mexico, parts of the Caribbean and much of the United States. The Spanish Man was a name given to the Caribbean coast of the Spanish Empire in mainland Central and South America. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 Ã— 370 pixelsFull resolution (1357 Ã— 628 pixel, file size: 37 KB, MIME type: image/png) The map illustrates the Spanish colonial possessions through out the world. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 Ã— 370 pixelsFull resolution (1357 Ã— 628 pixel, file size: 37 KB, MIME type: image/png) The map illustrates the Spanish colonial possessions through out the world. ... An anachronous map of the overseas Spanish Empire (1492-1898) in red, and the Spanish Habsburg realms in Europe (1516-1714) in orange. ...

Spain saw a struggle between the Conquistadores and the royal authority. The Conquistadores soldiers and officers were given vast territories and Indian labourers (Encomienda]]s) in place of payment or loot. Rebellions were frequent (See Lope de Aguirre, Gonzalo Pizarro). The Spanish Crown resorted to several systems of government, including Adelantados, Captaincy General, Viceroyalties, Lieutenant General-Governors and others. A Conquistador (Spanish: []) (English: Conqueror) was a Spanish soldier, explorer and adventurer who took part in the gradual invasion and conquering of much of the Americas and Asia Pacific, bringing them under Spanish colonial rule between the 15th and 19th centuries. ... The encomienda system was a trusteeship labor system used during the Spanish colonization of the Americas. ... Lope de Agguire Lope de Aguirre ( c. ... Gonzalo Pizarro (b. ... This article refers to the Commonwealths concept of the monarchys legal authority. ... For other uses, see System (disambiguation). ... Adelantado was a Governor-like military office held by the Spanish Conquistadores of the 16th and 17th centuries. ... Captaincy General (from the Spanish CapitanÃa General) is a division of a viceroyalty in colonial Spanish-America and the Spanish-Philippines, established in areas under risk of foreign invasion or Indian attack. ... A viceroy is somebody who governs a country or province as a substitute for the monarch. ... Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. ... A governor is an official who heads the government of a colony, state or other sub-national state unit. ...

Caribbean

The Spanish West Indies (also known as Las Antillas) consist of Cuba, Hispaniola (present-day Dominican Republic and Haiti), Puerto Rico, Jamaica (until the 1655) , the Cayman Islands, Trinidad (until 1797) and Bay Islands (until 1643). ...

South America

New Granada can mean: the English rendering of any Spanish geographical or administrative name Nueva Granada, always named after the deep southern Spanish port city Granada, as in: the Spanish American colonial Viceroyalty of New Granada the post-colonial Republic of New Granada (1831 to 1856), which included modern Colombia... Created in 1542, the Viceroyalty of Peru (in Spanish, Virreinato del PerÃº) contained most of Spanish-ruled South America until the creation of the separate viceroyalties of New Granada (now Colombia, Ecuador, PanamÃ¡ and Venezuela, the last-named previously in the Viceroyalty of New Spain) in 1717 and RÃo... Created in 1776, the Viceroyalty of La Plata (in Spanish, Virreinato del RÃo de la Plata) was the last and most shortlived viceroyalty created by Spain. ... For other uses, see Buenos Aires (disambiguation). ... Central La Paz La Paz is the administrative capital of Bolivia, as well as the departmental capital of La Paz Department. ... For other meanings of Inca, see Inca (disambiguation). ... Itata River flows in BÃo-BÃo Region, southern Chile. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Darien may refer to: In or associated with the Panama/Colombia area: DariÃ©n Province, Panama Santa MarÃa la Antigua del DariÃ©n, the town founded by Vasco NÃºÃ±ez de Balboa in Panama in 1510 DariÃ©n scheme, a disastrous campaign by the Company of Scotland to found... World map showing the Americas CIA political map of the Americas The Americas are the lands of the Western hemisphere or New World, consisting of the continents of North America[1] and South America with their associated islands and regions. ... The Viceroyalty of New Granada was the name given to a group of colonial provinces in northern South America, corresponding mainly to modern Colombia. ... A Conquistador (Spanish: []) (English: Conqueror) was a Spanish soldier, explorer and adventurer who took part in the gradual invasion and conquering of much of the Americas and Asia Pacific, bringing them under Spanish colonial rule between the 15th and 19th centuries. ... â€œPizarroâ€ redirects here. ... Capital BogotÃ¡ Created December 1819 Dissolved November 1831 Demonym Colombian Departments of the Republic Greater Colombia (Gran Colombia in Spanish) is the name given to the Republic of Colombia of 1819-1830, which was a short-lived republic in South America consisting of present-day Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Panama. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... There lies Peru with its riches; Here, Panama and its poverty. ... â€œPizarroâ€ redirects here. ... Nickname: La Sultana del Avila (English:The Avilas Sultan) La Sucursal del paraiso Motto: Ave MarÃa SantÃsima, sin pecado concebida, en el primer instante de su ser natural. ... Capital BogotÃ¡ Created December 1819 Dissolved November 1831 Demonym Colombian Departments of the Republic Greater Colombia (Gran Colombia in Spanish) is the name given to the Republic of Colombia of 1819-1830, which was a short-lived republic in South America consisting of present-day Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Panama. ...

Central America

The following bulleted countries, known as the Federal Republic of Central America, became independent from Spain in 1821 during Mexico's war of independence:

Panama declared independence from Colombia in 1903. Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba Nicaraguan Postage, 1924 Francisco HernÃ¡ndez de CÃ³rdoba (1475 ? - 1526) is usually reputed as the founder of Nicaragua, and in fact he founded two important Nicaraguan cities, Granada and LeÃ³n. ...

North America

map of New Spain in red, with territories claimed but not controlled in orange. ... For other uses, see Texas (disambiguation). ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Alta California (Upper California) was formed in 1804 when the province of California, then a part of the Spanish colony of New Spain, was divided in two along the line separating the Franciscan missions in the north from the Dominican missions in the south. ... Location within Mexico Municipalities of Baja California Country Capital Municipalities 5 Largest City Tijuana Government - Governor JosÃ© Guadalupe Osuna MillÃ¡n (PAN) - Federal Deputies PAN: 8 - Federal Senators Alejandro GonzÃ¡lez (PAN) Rafael DÃaz (PAN) Fernando Castro (PRI) Area Ranked 12th - Total 69,921 kmÂ² (26,996. ... Official language(s) English Spoken language(s) English 74. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Official language(s) English Capital Denver Largest city Denver Largest metro area Denver-Aurora Metro Area Area Ranked 8th - Total 104,185 sq mi (269,837 kmÂ²) - Width 280 miles (451 km) - Length 380 miles (612 km) - % water 0. ... For other uses, see Oklahoma (disambiguation). ... Capital Santa Fe Largest city Albuquerque Largest metro area Albuquerque metropolitan area Area Ranked 5th - Total 121,665 sq mi (315,194 kmÂ²) - Width 342 miles (550 km) - Length 370 miles (595 km) - % water 0. ... The Adams-OnÃs Treaty of 1819 (formally titled the Treaty of Amity, Settlement, and Limits Between the United States of America and His Catholic Majesty, and also known as the Transcontinental Treaty of 1819, and sometimes the Florida Purchase Treaty) was a historic agreement between the United States and... The Pacific Northwest from space The Pacific Northwest, abbreviated PNW, or PacNW is a region in the northwest of North America. ... The Arkansas River flows through Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. ... The Red River is one of several rivers with that name, and of two rivers with that name in the United States. ... Spanish Florida (Florida EspaÃ±ola) refers to the Spanish colony of Florida. ... This article is about the U.S. State of Florida. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Flag In 1803, the United States concluded the Louisiana Purchase (green area) with France. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... Official language(s) English Capital Little Rock Largest city Little Rock Largest metro area Little Rock Metropolitan Area Area Ranked 29th - Total 53,179 sq mi (137,002 kmÂ²) - Width 239 miles (385 km) - Length 261 miles (420 km) - % water 2. ... For other uses, see Oklahoma (disambiguation). ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Official language(s) English Capital Des Moines Largest city Des Moines Largest metro area Des Moines metropolitan area Area Ranked 26th - Total 56,272 sq mi (145,743 kmÂ²) - Width 310 miles (500 km) - Length 199 miles (320 km) - % water 0. ... Official language(s) English Capital Lincoln Largest city Omaha Largest metro area Omaha Area Ranked 16th - Total 77,421 sq mi (200,520 kmÂ²) - Width 210 miles (340 km) - Length 430 miles (690 km) - % water 0. ... Capital Saint Paul Largest city Minneapolis Area Ranked 12th - Total 87,014 sq mi (225,365 kmÂ²) - Width 250 miles (400 km) - Length 400 miles (645 km) - % water 8. ... Official language(s) English Capital Bismarck Largest city Fargo Area Ranked 19th - Total 70,762 sq mi (183,272 kmÂ²) - Width 210 miles (340 km) - Length 340 miles (545 km) - % water 2. ... Official language(s) English Capital Pierre Largest city Sioux Falls Area Ranked 17th - Total 77,116[1] sq mi (199,905 kmÂ²) - Width 210 miles (340 km) - Length 380 miles (610 km) - % water 1. ... Official language(s) English Capital Cheyenne Largest city Cheyenne Area Ranked 10th - Total 97,818 sq mi (253,348 kmÂ²) - Width 280 miles (450 km) - Length 360 miles (580 km) - % water 0. ... Official language(s) English Capital Helena Largest city Billings Area Ranked 4th - Total 147,165 sq mi (381,156 kmÂ²) - Width 255 miles (410 km) - Length 630 miles (1,015 km) - % water 1 - Latitude 44Â° 21â€² N to 49Â° N - Longitude 104Â° 2â€² W to 116Â° 3â€² W Population Ranked... Official language(s) English Capital Denver Largest city Denver Largest metro area Denver-Aurora Metro Area Area Ranked 8th - Total 104,185 sq mi (269,837 kmÂ²) - Width 280 miles (451 km) - Length 380 miles (612 km) - % water 0. ... Official language(s) English [1] Capital Boise Largest city Boise Largest metro area Boise metropolitan area Area Ranked 14th - Total 83,642 sq mi (216,632 kmÂ²) - Width 305 miles (491 km) - Length 479 miles (771 km) - % water 0. ... New Orleans is the largest city in the state of Louisiana, United States of America. ... For other uses, see Great Plains (disambiguation). ... This article is about the U.S. State. ...

Independence

During the Peninsular War, when Spain itself was occupied by Napoleonic troops, several assemblies were established by the criollos to rule the lands in the name of Ferdinand VII of Spain. Meanwhile, on July 16, 1809 the first declaration of independence from Spanish rule was signed at La Paz (in modern Bolivia), which began a movement for independence that soon spread across the Spanish colonies. This experience of self-government, the influence of liberalism, and the ideas of the French and American Revolutions influenced the Libertadores. All of the colonies except Cuba and Puerto Rico eventually freed themselves, often with help from the British Empire, which sought to break the Spanish monopoly on trade in the region. For the 1862 American Civil War campaign, see Peninsula Campaign. ... NapolÃ©on I, Emperor of the French (born Napoleone di Buonaparte, changed his name to NapolÃ©on Bonaparte)[1] (15 August 1769; Ajaccio, Corsica â€“ 5 May 1821; Saint Helena) was a general during the French Revolution, the ruler of France as First Consul (Premier Consul) of the French Republic from... In the Spanish colonial caste system (castas), a criollo was a person of unmixed Spanish ancestry born in the colonies. ... Ferdinand VII (October 14, 1784 - September 29, 1833) was King of Spain from 1813 to 1833. ... Liberalism is an ideology, philosophical view, and political tradition which holds that liberty is the primary political value. ... John Trumbulls Declaration of Independence, showing the five-man committee in charge of drafting the Declaration in 1776 as it presents its work to the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia The American Revolution refers to the period during the last half of the 18th century in which the Thirteen... Libertadores (Spanish and Portuguese for Liberators) refers to the leaders of the revolutions which gained the nations of Latin America independence from Spain and Portugal. ... The British Empire in 1897, marked in pink, the traditional colour for Imperial British dominions on maps. ...

In 1898, the United States won the Spanish-American War and occupied Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippines, ending Spanish rule in the Americas. Spanish settlement of the region continued, however, as the early 20th century saw a stream of immigration of poor people and political exiles from Spain to the former colonies, especially Cuba, Mexico and Argentina. After the 1970s, the flow became reversed as Latin Americans began settling in Spain. In the 1990s, Spanish companies like Repsol and Telefonica invested in South America, often buying newly privatized companies. Combatants United States Republic of Cuba Philippine Republic Spain Commanders Nelson A. Miles William R. Shafter George Dewey MÃ¡ximo GÃ³mez Emilio Aguinaldo Patricio Montojo Pascual Cervera Arsenio Linares RamÃ³n Blanco Casualties 3,289 U.S. dead (432 from combat); considerably higher although undetermined Cuban and Filipino casualties... Repsol YPF is an integrated oil and gas company with operations in 29 countries, principally Spain and Argentina. ... Telefónica S.A. (NYSE: TEF) (TYO: 9481) is the national telephone network operator (telco) in Spain. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Currently, the Ibero-American countries, along with Spain and Portugal, have organized themselves as the Comunidad Iberoamericana de Naciones. Ibero-America is a term used to refer collectively to the countries in the Americas which were formerly colonies of Spain or Portugal. ... The Organization of Ibero-American States is an international organisation, comprising Latin America, Spain and Portugal. ...

References

For other uses, see Alaska (disambiguation). ... Motto: Splendor sine occasu (Latin: Splendour without diminishment) Capital Victoria Largest city Vancouver Official languages English (de facto) Government Lieutenant-Governor Steven Point Premier Gordon Campbell (BC Liberal) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament House seats 36 Senate seats 6 Confederation July 20, 1871 (6th province) Area Ranked 5th Total 944... Official language(s) (none)[1] Capital Salem Largest city Portland Area Ranked 9th - Total 98,466 sq mi (255,026 kmÂ²) - Width 260 miles (420 km) - Length 360 miles (580 km) - % water 2. ... map of New Spain in red, with territories claimed but not controlled in orange. ...

Encyclopedia > Spanish colonization of the Americas

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