Spanish

=The Spanish: A Perspective on American History=

by Catalino Johnson, Jasper MacNaughton, and Hary Elizarde (September 30, 2009)


**Introduction:** The Spanish are a Western European group. Pre-1492 and now, the Spanish live in a country now called Spain. Spain is next to France and south of England. People wanted to explore the Americas, but things were in the way such as the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean. The Spanish interacted with Native Americans, Native Filipinos, and possibly Indians. They mostly interacted with Western Africans and Italians. Spain revolted in the Spanish-American war. The Spanish, Filipinos, and Guam were against America. The Spanish also hired Christopher Columbus to search the new region of the Americas. Hernando Cortes also was an explorer, but he explored Mexico. Cortes interacted with the Aztecs, a civilization that reached its height in 1325. **

Religion (Worldview):** The Spanish believed in Roman Catholic Christianity, which meant they believed in one god who was lifted from the darkness to create the world. The Spanish believed that each person was created in “God’s image”. If you were to not obey any of the sacred laws, the Spanish would punish you by killing you. They also believed that whoever didn’t believe in God would go to hell. If you were good, you would go to heaven, but you would have to go to purgatory, a sort of waiting room. Anyone in heaven would achieve eternal life.

**Population in the United States:** There were 500 conquistadors in the Americas along with 500 slaves in 1522. By the 1600s, the population of the Spanish people in the Americas was 500,000 people.

**HISTORY:**

**1492: Columbus’ Arrival in the Americas** In 1492, the Spanish converted to Catholicism because of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. If people weren't Catholic they were killed. The Jews and Muslims were kicked out or they fled. That same year, the Spanish hired an Italian born person named Christopher Columbus to explore the Americas.

In 1521, Hernan Cortes defeated and destroyed the Mexican/Aztec Empire, gaining riches that would tempt other //conquistadore//s after him. The Spanish had a rebellion against the Aztecs, which forced them to sign a treaty. There were 240,000 Spanish in Mexico in that time. In 1542, Hernando de Soto found the Mississippi River. The Aztec Sun Stone, an artifact found at the Aztec capital. Image from: []
 * 1521: Cortes Encounters the Aztecs in Mexico**

In 1598, The Great Plague happened in Spain. The Plague killed about 10% of Spain. While the plague was still happening, people were colonizing America. One thousand people then fled to the Americas because they didn't want to be killed by the rules that Spain followed. Concept art of the Great Plague. Image from: []
 * 1607: English Colonists Arrive at Jamestown**

** 1687: English Colonies Expand ** By the 1600s, there were 500,000 immigrants in the Americas from Spain because of religious persecution in Spain, Christian desire to convert the "heathen" natives in America, and quest for riches. Spain was still colonizing America. ** 1776-1787: American Revolution;U.S. Constitution ** In 1776, the Spanish colonized Arizona. They found silver there. Back in Spain, Portugal attacked in a sea battle the same year on the Spanish port. Spain was outnumbered 1,500 to 6,000. The Spanish still won regardless of their numbers.

**1802: Tlingit Battle the Russians at Sitka**  In 1809, The Spanish War of Independence took place. The Spanish were occupied by Napoleon's troops. The Spanish fought for freedom against Napoleon. He was French.
 * Napoleon Bonaparte image from: http://amazingscott.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/napoleonstart-copy-704617.jpg**

In 1824, the Spanish signed a treaty with Cordoba. That means that the Spanish wanted to sign a law paper with Cordoba. They pretty much wanted to be friends. People have helped shape America this year by making modern household items.
 * 1839: The Amistad; the Trail of Tears**

During 1850, there were 27,000 Spanish people in the Americas. Spain was still colonizing Central and South America.
 * 1850: Fugitive Slave Law made in U.S.**


 * 1863: The U.S. Civil War; Emanc. Proclamation:**

=1890: Westward Movement; Reform=

The Spanish-American War takes place in 1898. This was a war between the Spanish and the United States over the liberation of the island of Cuba.
Concept art of the Spanish-American War. Image from: http://www.solpass.org/7ss/Images/war.gif

**2009: Today/ Legacy** There are 34,547,077 Spanish people in the United States. In 2002, Spain replaced its currency from Peseta to Euros. In 2004, people were setting out bombs by Al-Queda. Lots of tourists come to Spain. Thanks to Spain, the Spanish made Micronesia, Guam, the Philippines, Palau, and Marianas Christian.

Euros! Money used in Europe. Image from: []

“Spanish Colonization of the Americas”. Accessed September 30, 2009. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish _colonization_of_the_Americas, [].
 * Works Cited:**