Why Spain Became The American Southwest Essay

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There are several reasons why Spain wanted to colonize what later became the American Southwest. One reason is due to Spanish explorer Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca stating on his reports about a seven cities of Gold or “Cibola” that contain rich resources. This brought the attention of Spain which made further explorations to the vast landscape. The Southwest exploration ended in disaster due to the lack of discovery for precious metals, so Spain turned their attention to international rivalry that led Spain’s settlement in the northern frontier. One settlement in particular was Albuquerque in 1706, with its rich resources, Spain required labor workers and this was a reason the Indians were valuable to them (Meier and Ribera, 20). Indians who …show more content…

The racial tensions soon turn to political and economically as a movement led by Father Hidalgo in the 1800s changed the future of Mexico. Hidalgo, the Indians and mestizos joined together to liberate Mexico from Spanish Rule and gain independence. Hidalgo and his militia went on to liberate town after town, but soon found himself defeated in 1810 by royalists. Hidalgo’s associates Jose Maria Morelos y Pavon, who have military and economical skills took the helm to liberate Mexico and gained their independence. Morelos and Pavon than began to write the Constitution of Mexico, but soon Morelos met his faith on the hands of royalists, which they captured Morales and put to death (Meier and Ribera, 28). This events caused revolts across the land, and indigenous and mixed revolutionaries soon found themselves in a prolong conflict that lasted until 1821 when the Spanish ended control of California and Mexico (Meier and Ribera, 30). The United States then took interest to the West and purchased Louisiana from France who reacquired it from Spain. Spain’s dominion of the New World soon collapsed as Mexicans rose up to achieve their independence and the United States population grew and took control of the western land through purchasing and

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