Hispanic America

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HISPANIC AMERICA North America was once controlled by three European Powers: Britain, France and Spain.

Though their legacy is still evident throughout the land, American history books have paid unequal tribute to the parties. Because of the rise of the Hispanic population in the country, a look at America's Spanish past is warranted.

Thanks are given to Judy Baca Romero's site, Hispanic America, for much of the information found on this page. Interested parties may also want to read our other source, "Spanish Roots of America" by Bishop David Arias. The Spanish presence on the North American continent extended from the East Coast to the Pacific, as far north in the Pacific to what is now British Columbia. Spanish Conquistadores explored and colonized over at least 31 states of the present U.S. long before the Pilgrims landed (see Tidbits). When Plymouth was founded in 1620:

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St. Augustine Florida, was celebrating its 55th anniversary

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Santa Fe, New Mexico, the seat of the Spanish Empire in North America, was celebrating its first decade.

Many Latinos in the United States are actual descendants of that Spanish colonization. They have direct ancestral roots in the present day United States dating back almost 500 years or 20 generations. Even some of our folklore descends from Spaniard colonization:the figure of "The American Cowboy" is connected to the Spanish Vaquero (Cowboy), including "Western Dancing". From the early 1500's to the late 1800's, Spanish was the dominant language in many of the present states in our country. And from the early 1900's to the present, English and Spanish have shared the status of dual languages in the present USA.

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By the time of the American Revolution, Spanish was the majority language in the present U.S.

The Viceroyalty of New Spain (1535 to 1821)

In the 16th century Spain established two Viceroyalties to govern its territories in the One was the Viceroyalty of New Spain, the other being the Viceroyalty of Peru. The first one included: The territory included most of the present-day United States, Central America, Mexico, also the Caribbean, and the Philippines, Guam, Carolina islands and the Mariana Islands that remained a part of the Spanish Empire until the Spanish–American War in 1898

Map of the Viceroyalty of New Spain (1535 to 1821)

Spanish Louisiana In 1682, La Salle reached the mouth of the Mississippi and claimed for France all of the land drained by that river and its tributaries, naming it Louisiana after Louis XIV.

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Through the Treaty of Fontainebleau in 1762, the French secretly ceded the area West of the Mississippi and the "Isle of Orleans" to Spain. This was an attempt to keep the entire Louisiana territory from falling into the hands of the British.

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In 1795, the Treaty of San Lorenzo establishes the border between the United States and Spanish territories along the Mississippi

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In 1800, through the secret Treaty of San Ildefonso, Napoleon I forced the retrocession of the territory from Spain to France. Revelation of this treaty caused profound concern in the United States. President Jefferson attempted to purchase the "Isle of Orleans" from France. To the surprise of the American representatives in France, Napoleon decided to sell all of Louisiana to the United States

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In 1803 The U.S. buys the Louisiana Territory from Napoleon. The purchase doubled the size of the United States.

The Spanish West The Spanish introduced horses to the American Southwest in the 1500's. Up until this time, Native Americans hunted buffalo by foot. In 1848, the U.S. and Mexico sign the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo. Through this act, America increased its territory by two-thirds to include California, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, and parts of Wyoming. As a result, Mexico was cut in half.

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The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo guarantees American Citizens the right to speak the Spanish language in schools, courts of law, employment, and every day existence in California, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and Colorado.

Wars Hispanics have helped the U.S. in every major conflict and fought alongside its troops. Information obtained from Department of Defense, New Mexico Archives, Louisiana Archives & other qualified independent sources bring the following to light:

The American Revolution •

Thousands of Spanish troops allied with the Continental Army against the British.

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In 1779, Spain declared war on Great Britain and became an open ally of the American Revolutionary movement.

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7000 prisoners of war died while prisoners of war on English prison ships in New York Harbor after being captured. Out of the 7000 there were over 4000 Spanish soldiers fighting for American independence

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Hispanics from Spain, the present-day USA, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Santo Domingo, Venezuela and Costa Rica fought with the Continental Army against their British foe.

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Spanish ports in Europe and the Caribbean were safe havens for harassed American ships.

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The battle of Yorktown was planned by Spanish military strategist Captain Francisco de Saavedra. This battle was the turning point of the War of Independence

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General Bernardo de Gálvez (1746-1786) commanded the Spanish troops composed of Puerto Ricans, Venezuelans, Dominicans, Salvadorians, Nicaraguans and Mexicans during the revolutionary war. They distracte the British from the revolution by capturing the cities of Mobile, Pensacola and St. Louis. Gálvez also secretly provided guns, cloth, gunpowder and medicines shipped from Cuba up the Mississippi. The ships flew the Spanish flag enabling them to pass by British fortifications unimpeded.

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In 1785, George Washington wrote a friendly letter to Carlos III, the King of Spain, thanking him for a recent gift. Carlos III had been generous in his support of the birth of the fledgling United States during the War of Independence - King Carlos from Spain donated 1,000,000 pounds to the Continental Congress toward the defeat of the British at Yorktown.

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For at least five years, Spain had sent more supplies and money than had been requested to help the American Rebels succeed. Spanish men from the peninsula and throughout the Americas fought in the conflict.

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The American Revolution used funds collected from people living in the present states of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California (then a part of Mexico). An important percentage of financial support originated in New Spain now called Mexico. Dr. Thomas E. Chavez, Director of the Governor's Museum, Santa Fe, NM

The Civil War •

Over 13,000 Hispanics served under the Confederacy, such as in the 55th Alabama Infantry and Manigault's Battalion of South Carolina Artillery.

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Hispanics served in Confederate units such as the Benavides Regiments, commanded by Colonel Santos Benavides and the 10th Texas Cavalry, commanded by Major Leonides M. Martin.

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According to the historian Jerry Don Thompson, significant numbers of Hispanics also served in the 6th Missouri Infantry, the Chalmetle Regiment of Louisiana Infantry, and the Second Texas Mounted Rifles.

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Other Confederate units which contained large numbers of Hispanics included Vigil's Independent Companies - Cavalry, the Louisiana Zouaves 1st Florida Cavalry, the Spanish Legion of the European Brigade, the Spanish Guard (part of the Home Guard of Mobile, Alabama), and four independent New Mexico militia companies known by their commanders names (Gonzales, Martinez, Tafolla, and Perea).

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The conflict deeply divided the Mexican-Texans. An estimated 2,550 fought in the ranks of the Confederacy, while 950, including some Mexican nationals, fought for the Union.

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Not only was there diversity in Confederate ranks, but there was a broad racial makeup of Hispanics living in the Old South.

WW I and beyond •

More than 200,000 Puerto Ricans and other countless Hispanics have fought under the American flag since World War I.

Some Tidbits of Early Hispanic Footprints in North America

Alabama •

1519 Alonso Alvarez de Pineda discovers the River and Bay of Espiritu Santo, without much question identifiable as Mobile River and Mobile Bay

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The flag of Spain was the first to Fly over Alabama. According to William Brown in his 1901 Alabama History, de Soto entered the town of Costa on July 2, 1539.

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1558 In advance of the colonial expedition of Tristan de Luna, Guido de las Bazares explores the northern Gulf Coast. He reports favorably of "Bahia Filipina", which was probably Mobile Bay.

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1560 After an unsuccessful year in the interior, the expedition of Luna encamps on the eastern shore of Mobile Bay before departing for Ochuse (Pensacola Bay)

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1566 Juan Pardo explores Alabama,

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1600's The British lay claim to Alabama

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1700's The French lay claim to Alabama

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1763 Terminated French occupation. Alabama is transferred to British dominion at the Treaty of Paris of 1763.

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1780 General Bernardo de Gálvez, then governor of Louisiana, captures Mobile during the American Revolution, which would remain under Spanish rule for the next 30 years.

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1783 Spanish gain title to the British provinces of East and West Florida, which included a portion of Alabama, in Treaty of Paris of 1783.

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1814 the United States takes over the Mobile district, adding it to the Mississippi Territory

Alaska •

The Spanish admiral Barthileme de Fonte is credited by many to be the first one making a trip into Alaskan waters in 1640.

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1774 Juan Pérez and his crew of 86 in the Santiago arrived into the southern area of the island

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1775 Francisco Bodega y Quadra and Francisco Mourelle came into Bucareli Bay and claimed the coast of Alaska for Spain

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Spanish naval explorer Don Salvador Fidalgo sailed into Orca Inlet in 1790 and called it Puerto Cordova.

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1792 Jacinto Caamaño explored the southern half of the island

Arkansas •

Early 1500's The Spanish explore Arkansas.

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1541 The Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto was the first European to set foot in Arkansas

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1762 - 1800 part of the Spanish Louisiana Territory.

Arizona •

Spanish-speaking from early 1500's and up to the present time.

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1539 Franciscan priest named Marcos de Niza, who entered the territory for exploration

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1540 Francisco Vasquéz de Coronado explores Arizona

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1581 Chamuscado, Padre Rodriguez, and Espejo expeditions into Arizona.

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1600's & 1700's Spanish Presidios (Forts) and Missions established

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1687 The Jesuit Father Eusebio Kino arrives in present-day Arizona to begin building a string of 24 missions

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1770's funds collected from Hispanics & sent to fund the American Revolution;

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1800's Spanish-speaking Americans founded northern Arizona cities

California •

Spanish word.

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Spanish-peaking from the 1500's and up to the present time.

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1540 Melchor Diáz 'discovers' California (under Vasquéz de Coronado).

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1542 seafaring Spaniards explore California coast;

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1602 Sebastian Vizcaino, in search of good harbor, discovers Monterey Bay. His discovery sets the scene for the settlement of the Alta California region

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1700's Presidios/Missions/Ranchos

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1769 Father Junipero Serra and Captain Gaspar de Portola begin the land-based exploration and settlement of Alta California. Father Serra establishes Mision San Diego de Alcala near the site of present-day San Diego.

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1769 The Spanish established the city of San Diego

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1772 Pedro Fages, now in command of the Portola expedition, leads a scouting party into central California, exploring San Francisco Bay and the San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys.

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1776 A group of nearly 200 settlers, led overland from Mexico across desert and mountain by Governor Luis Anza, arrive to establish a permanent colony on San Francisco Bay.

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1776 American Revolution/funds collected from Los Angles, San Diego, San Francisco & sent to the American cause.

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1781 The Spanish established the city of Los Angles

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1795 November 17 Don Jose Maria Beltran, Royal Exchequer and Minister in Charge of the 2nd Naval Department, drafts a detailed plan for the fortification of Alta California.

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California remained Spanish for three centuries unchallenged.

Colorado •

Spanish word for Red.

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Continues to be Spanish-speaking

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1540 - 1800's USA Spanish-speaking pioneers

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1762 - 1800 part of the Spanish Louisiana Territory.

Connecticut •

1525 Estaban Gomes - The Spanish explore from Cape Charles to Cape Cod and the Hudson, Delaware and the Connecticut rivers

Florida •

Spanish word meaning flowery

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Spanish-peaking from 1500's & up to the present.

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1512 Ponce de Leon explores both sides of the Florida Peninsula.

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1513 Ponce de León explores Florida coast.

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1514 Don Pànfilo de Narvàez appointed governor of Florida.

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1519 Alfonso Alvaréz Pinéda reconnoiters the Gulf coast from Florida to Rio Panuco (the Gulf of Mexico Coast).

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1528 Panifilo de Narvaez with a fleet of five ships entered near Tampa Bay, St Petersburg, Florida

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1539 Hernando de Soto's people sighted this continent, at a port first discovered by Ponce de Leon, one of Columbus' captains. He had named this continent "The Island of Florida" thinking it was a big island.

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1559 August 14, Don Tristan de Luna y Arellano, with 1500 would-be settlers and soldiers, made the first attempt to colonize Pensacola Bay, and named it Bahia Santa Maria de Filipina. It lasted two years. Fort abandoned in 1561

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1565 St. Augustine, Florida established by Pedro Menendez de Aviles.

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1686 Pensacola bay rediscovered by Juan Enriquez Baroto and Antonio Romero.

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1698 Andres de Arriola, governor, fortifies Pensacola. Pensacola was founded.

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1702 English from Carolina besieged Castillo de San Marcos unsuccessfully, but razed St. Augustine.

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1704 English destroyed the Spanish missions in North Florida.

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1722 - 1723 France burns Pensacola in war. Restored to Spain by treaty after War of Quadruple Alliance Spanish secure return of Pensacola and reoccupy,

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1728 English again raided Spanish St. Augustine, Florida

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1738 The Spanish build Fort Mose, the first free African settlement to legally exist in the United States, for the African born slaves who escaped from British Carolina

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1740 The British besieged Spanish St. Augustine unsuccessfully

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1742 The Spanish build Ft Matanzas at an inlet 14 miles south of St. Augustine, Florida.

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1756 - 1763 Seven Years War. Spanish lose to British. Treaty of Paris ends the War. Britain gained control of Florida and took possession of Pensacola.

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1781 Battle of Pensacola, Bernardo Galvez of Spain recaptured Pensacola from the British as a turning point in the American Revolution. West Florida evacuated by British.

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1783 Florida given to Spain by England in exchange for Bahamas and Gibraltar as a result of the Treaty of Paris at the close of the American Revolution. The Treaty of Paris at the close of the American Revolution gave all of "the Floridas" to Spain.

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1795 Spain yields its claim to the northern part of West Florida.

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1803 With the Louisiana Purchase, the capital of Spanish West Florida was moved to Pensacola from New Orleans.

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1821 Adams-Onis Treaty ratified wherein Spain sells Florida to the United States.

Georgia •

Spanish-speaking from 1500's

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1540 Exploration led by Hernando de Soto

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1526 Lucas Vasquéz de Ayllon -settled on the Savannah River.

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1526 First European settlement was in present day Georgia -San Miguel de Guadalupe, Founded and settled by Spain, (81 years before Jamestown.)

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1566 Juan Pardo explores Georgia

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Spanish Forts in Georgia for almost 300 years.

Hawai’i •

1555 Spanish navigator Juan Gaetano discovers the islands, Islas de Mesa (Table Islands).

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1830 introduction of paniolo (cowboys) from Mexico.

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In the early 1800s the Spanish Don Francisco de Paula Marin was the most influential European living in Hawai'i. First cultivating coffee and guava trees among others.

Illinois •

1541 Hernando de Soto's scouts discovered Lake Michigan, at Chicago, Illinois

Indiana •

1541 Hernando de Soto in 'Indiana' area.

Iowa •

1762 - 1800 part of the Spanish Louisiana Territory.

Kansas •

Spanish-speaking from 1500's

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1540 Francisco Vasquéz de Coronado explores Kansas

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1800's Spanish cowboys drove cattle

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1824 passed into the possession to the newly formed Republic of Texas

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1762 - 1800 part of the Spanish Louisiana Territory.

Kentucky •

1541 Hernando de Soto expedition

Louisiana •

Spanish-speaking from 1500's

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1543 de Soto expedition

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1763 New Orleans becomes a Spanish colony by the signing of the Treaty of Paris 1767 New Orleans became Capital of Spanish Louisiana

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1769 First Spanish Governor, Alexander O'Reilly takes control of Louisiana Colony, French rebellion resulted in execution of five French leaders

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1762 - 1800 part of the Spanish Louisiana Territory.

Maine •

Esteban Gomes explores Maine coast and Nova Scotia

Maryland •

1570 Spanish Father Segura establishes Spanish Mission in Chesapeake Bay

Michigan •

Spanish troops defeat the British at St Joseph, Michigan, during the American Revolution

Minnesota •

1762 - 1800 part of the Spanish Louisiana Territory.

Mississippi •

Spanish-speaking from 1500's

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1540 de Soto expedition

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The oldest house is called "The Old Spanish Fort".

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Part of Spanish Louisiana

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1819 Spain ceded West Florida (now Alabama and Mississippi)

Missouri •

Spanish-speaking from prior to the American Revolution

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1541 Hernando de Soto entered the mountains of Missouri

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1780 The Spanish-speaking militias from surrounding villages were called in to St. Louis, Missouri in May of 1780 to help defend the town from an attack by a British force of 1200 Canadians and Native Americans

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1762 - 1800 part of the Spanish Louisiana Territory.

Montana •

Spanish meaning mountain

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1762 - 1800 part of the Spanish Louisiana Territory.

Nebraska •

1800's Hispanic and Spanish-speaking cattlemen drove cattle through the Nebraska trail

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1762 - 1800 part of the Spanish Louisiana Territory.

Nevada •

Spanish name for snow-clad

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Spanish-speaking

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1776 Spanish missionaries explore Nevada.

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Thousands of American Hispanics who were Spanish-speaking pioneered and settled in Nevada.

New Mexico •

Spanish-speaking from 1500's

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1536 Estebanico the Moor, Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca and two other companions were the first Europeans to see New Mexico.

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1540 New Mexico also explored by the Explorer Vasquez de Coronado and his expedition.

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1539 Fray Márcos de Niza lead expedition into New Mexico

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1500's, 1600's, 1700's Presidios (forts), Missions established

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1580 Rodriguez-Chamuscado, Espejo-Beltran expeditions to New Mexico

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1581 Chamuscado, Padre Rodriguez, and Espejo expeditions into New Mexico

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1590 First attempt to colonize New Mexico by Gaspar de Sosa.

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1598 Don Juan de Oñate took possession of all the kingdoms and provinces of New Mexico in the name of King Phillip of Spain and established the first official European colony in New Mexico, San Gabriel del Yunque (establishes first Spanish capital at San Juan de los Caballeros)

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1598 First church in North America was constructed at San Juan Pueblo, 30 miles north of Santa Fe

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1609 New Mexico's third governor, Don Pedro de Peralta, established the city of Santa Fe.

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1669 to 1693 Diego de Vargas re-conquers New Mexico after Indian revolts

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1821 Mexico won its independence from Spain and New Mexico (which then comprised most of the Southwest and California) no longer under Spanish rule.

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1846 U.S. General Stephen Watts Kearny maneuvered his troops down the Santa Fe Trail and declared New Mexico an American territory.

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During the U.S. Civil War, New Mexico Volunteers were among the troops proving their Union loyalties by helping cut the supply lines of invading Confederates at Apache Pass

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1912 New Mexico became the 47th state.

New York •

Many Spanish-speaking persons lived in early NY.

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Spaniard Don Saavedra plans the Battle of Yorktown. Over 4000 Spanish soldiers died being held as Prisoners of War by the British at York Town.

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Hispanics were fighting to help General George Washington and the New Continental Congress fight the British in the American War of Independence.

North Carolina •

Spanish-speaking from 1500's

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The Juan Pardo Expeditions: Exploration of the Carolinas

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1521 Gordillo and Quexos explore Atlantic coast to Cape Hatteras (off North Carolina)

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1526 first settlement by Spanish

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1540 de Soto expedition

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"Winyah Bay" settled under Spaniard Lucas Vasquez de Ayllon 1565

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1566 Spanish build Fort at Parris Island

North Dakota •

1762 - 1800 part of the Spanish Louisiana Territory.

Oklahoma •

1540 - 1542 Hispanics led by Francisco Vasquez de Coronado explore Oklahoma

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1762 - 1800 part of the Spanish Louisiana Territory.

Oregon •

1500's The Spanish explore the Oregon Coast.

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The first Europeans to see the Oregon coast were Spanish sailors searching for a Northwest Passage to facilitate trade with the Orient.

Pennsylvania •

Late 1600's Persons of Spanish ancestry were among the English Thirteen Colonies

South Carolina •

Spanish-speaking from 1500's

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1514 Spanish first Europeans in South Carolina.

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1521 expedition by Spaniards

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1526 Lucas Vázquez de Ayllon a Spanish conquistador and explorer the first European colonizer of what is now South Carolina. His attempt to settle the coast of the Carolinas (near the mouth of the Peedee River at Winyah Bay) was unsuccessful.

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1540 Hernando de Soto expedition

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FORT MARION on Spanish Point in Beaufort, a Post-Revolutionary Fort

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FORT SAN FELIPE Parris Island, a Spanish Fort

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FORT SAN MARCOS Parris Island, a Spanish Fort

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FORT FREMONT at Land's End on St. Helena Island, a Spanish- American fort

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1566 Spanish Santa Elena, founded by Spain, present state of South Carolina & Virginia Areas

South Dakota •

1762 - 1800 part of the Spanish Louisiana Territory.

Tennessee •

1540 de Soto expedition

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1566 Juan Pardo explores Tennessee

Texas •

Spanish-speaking from 1500's

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1500s explored by Spaniards

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1520 Alvarez de Pineda sails across the Gulf of Mexico from Texas to Florida.

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1540 Francisco Vasquéz de Coronado explores Texas

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1542 Luis de Moscoso leads de Soto expedition into Texas

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1581 Chamuscado, Padre Rodriguez, and Espejo expeditions into Texas.

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1666 San Antonio de los Llanos (Texas) founded

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1690 Alonso de León establishes a mission at San Francisco de las Tejas near the Neches River, the first Spanish settlement in what will become Texas

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1718 Martin de Alarcon establishes San Antonio at the junction of the San Antonio and San Pedro Rivers in Tejas, midway between Mexico and Spain's settlements on the Sabine River along the border with French Louisiana.

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1730 By the 1730's Spain had sent more than 30 expeditions into Texas. Missions/Presidios (Forts) were established.

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1779 - 1789 Texas was part of Spanish Louisiana Territory.

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1821 - 1836 gains independence from Mexico

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1845 American annexation of Texas

Utah •

1776 Spanish Francisco Atanasio Dominguez and Silvestre Velez de Escalante, explored Utah.

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1800's Spanish trading parties/trappers/overland immigrants

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1800's Spanish pioneers in Utah established new towns

Virginia •

Spanish-speaking from the 1500's

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1566 Spanish Santa Elena, founded by Spain, present state of South Carolina & Virginia Areas 1500's Spanish settlements: The Spanish Jesuit Mission in Virginia, 1570-1572;

Washington •

From 1513 Hispanics first to explore the Pacific Washington Coast. Hispanics explore inlet/bay, which the Spanish named Rada de Bucareli (Bucareli Bay), led by Juan de la Bodega and Francisco de Mourelle.

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The Spanish explorer, Captain Bruno Heceta, visited the area in 1775 and claimed it for his country.

Washington D.C. •

1570 - 1572 Spanish-speaking

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1570 - 1572 Father Segura establishes Mission in Chesapeake Bay area (that's between New York City & our nation's capitol Washington D.C.).

Wyoming •

1762 - 1800 part of the Spanish Louisiana Territory.