Spanish Legacy of the War for Independence

padre31 · Jan 23, 2010

George Washington himself recognized the Spanish contribution when he wrote to King Carlos III of Spain after the War of Independence to thank him for the aid he had received from Spain during the fight for freedom. Washington was well aware that the Spanish Crown held a vast amount of territory throughout the Americas, from Patagonia to Alaska, and that the Spanish had been present in the New World for centuries. Washington understood that not only had Spanish explorers and missionaries shed their blood and made great sacrifices during those years, but that Spain had also contributed money and manpower to the American Revolution. The revolt against the British Crown was possible thanks, in part, to the funds sent by Spain and the participation of the Spanish in the New World. There were Spanish settlements from Mexico to Alaska, including many in what are today the states of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California, to name just a few. Spain clandestinely helped the colonists until war was formally declared on England in June, 1779. This aid began before the promulgation of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The Spanish Count of Aranda met with Benjamin Franklin, Silas Dean and Arthur Lee at the Continental Congress and gave his total support to the colonialists’ cause. Spain then made use of its territories in Cuba, Mexico, Santo Domingo and Puerto Rico to join forces with the colonists against the English.

In the silenced history of the Spanish role in the American struggle for independence, we find a generally unknown Spanish soldier named Bernardo de Gálvez (1746-1786). His valor on the battlefield in the Lower Mississippi basin was pivotal to General Washington’s ultimate victory. In addition to the Mississippi campaign, Gálvez’s conquest of Western Florida was a masterpiece of military strategy which advanced the cause of the American colonists’ fight for independence. Even before Spain became officially involved in the war with the English, Gálvez had already provided assistance to the American patriots. He corresponded directly with Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson and Charles Henry Lee and met with their personal emmisaries, Oliver Pollack and Capitan George Gibson. In these meetings, Gálvez agreed to help secure the New Orleans harbor.
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http://theamericano.com/2010/01/11/the-hispanic-legacy-in-the-independence-of-the-united-states/

gafinfan · Jan 24, 2010

padre31 said:

http://theamericano.com/2010/01/11/the-hispanic-legacy-in-the-independence-of-the-united-states/
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Thanks padre, its a shame that we gloss over so much of our history, for whatever reason, and in the process it is lost to all but a few. Lets face it we would not be who we are without the input of many peoples of all races and colors.

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