The Real Story of the American Revolution 

Spain's Involvement in the American Revolution

Latest Changes: 07Feb17 - merge battles with French list / 07Aug06 - add preface / 07Aug26 - note loans and envoys /

This includes subjects of the Spanish King
who were living in what is now AZ, CA, FL, LA, NM, TX,
Cuba, Mexico, and elsewhere in South America,
as well as on the Phillippine and Caribbean islands.

Spain's Involvement in North America: 1500 to 1763  Spain had extensive land claims and settlements in North America since the 1500s, some of which were ceded to Great Britain at the end of the French and Indian War in 1763. While organizing a 2007 symposium on The Spanish Contribution to the Independence of the United States: Between Reform and Revolution Ambassador Eduardo Garrigues, Advisor for Hispanic Affairs in the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated: In many history books, the Spanish contribution to the American Revolution has been ignored or underestimated, with the belief that Spain was playing only second fiddle to France in this international conflict, but in fact France had lost most of her American territories in the previous [French and indian] war with England, while Spain still controlled vast territories in both North and South America. As the leaders of the American Revolution expressed, without the financial and military support of Spain, the outcome of the war might have been different. Spain: How the Global Conflict Influenced the Outcome of the American War for Independence and Postwar World Development, by Granville W. Hough Bourbon France - Ally and Antagonist [Artifacts.com] traces the history of conflict and cooperation between France and Spain in North America from 1564 to 1781. 1763 - In the peace treaty ending the Seven Years War (which Americans called the French and Indian War) Spain ceded to Great Britain many North American areas and settlements that had been claimed or developed by Spain.

Spain's Involvement in North America: 1764 to 1778  1774: Colonists who were proponents of liberty in the United States sent commissioners to Spain and other European nations to explore opportunities for trade and political support. Spain's foreign policy during the time of the American Revolution was controlled by King Carlos III, Prime Minister José Moñino (the Count of Floridablanca), and Pedro Pablo Abarca de Bolea (the Count of Aranda) -- a longtime champion of the American cause. 1776 June: Spain and France agreed that each would provide a one million livre loan to Hortalez et Cie, a company set up by France to channel support to the U.S. outside of official government channels. The organizer, Beaumarchais, raised another million livres from French businesses who hoped to profit from the company. Spain later loaned about two million livres more to the U.S., while France loaned about 30 million livers more. [Ref.: Boatner, Encyclopedia of the American Revolution] Spain and France also agreed that each would provide five million livres to buy war materials for the U.S. The materials were shipped to St. Eustatius (a Dutch island in the Caribbean) where they were picked up by U.S. ships and delivered to the U.S. via Charleston SC and Philadelphia PA, or through New Orleans (which was then a Spanish territory) and sent up the Mississippi and Ohio rivers to Kentucky. [Ref.: flyer prepared by Mildred L. Murray, Ph.D. (1997 Sept)] 1778 Feb 6: France and the U.S. signed a Treaty of Amity and Commerce. Thus France recognized the sovereignity of the United States. They also signed a secret military treaty -- effectively declaring war on Great Britain. Although Spain was an ally of France Spain did not recognize U.S sovereignity until the Revolutionary War was over.

Spain's Involvement in North America: 1779 to 1783  1779 June 21: Spain formally declared war on Great Britain and launched an attack to retake Gibralter (which the British had captured in 1704). This attempt failed. Spain and France prepared for an allied invasion of England in 1779, but this was called off. This kept Great Britain from focusing its military power in the U.S. theater of war. See Allied battles for French and Spanish activities around the globe outside the U.S. theater of war. 1779 August 17: King Carlos III requested from the Missions of Alta California a contribution of two pesos from each Spaniard and one peso from each Indian. This appeal raised 2,683 Spanish dollars to buy supplies in support of the army under Galvez. Due to the difficulty of communications and transport, the funds did not reach Mexico until 1783, but they were donated to support the war and were used to pay for war-related expenses. 1780 Jan: John Jay -- the U.S. agent for Spain -- arrived in Spain and sought to have Spain sign a treaty of alliance, thereby recognizing the sovereignty of the U.S. While he was unsuccessful in this, he did secure a loan of nearly a million livres for the U.S. before leaving in 1782 May. 1781 May: An allied French-Spanish force led by Gen. Galvez captured the British fort at Pensacola, Florida. 1783 - Spain and France were gathering naval and land forces in Cadiz, Spain (36.5333 deg N, 6.3000 deg W) -- home port for the Spanish navy -- and in the Caribbean in preparation for an attack on British-held Jamaica -- capturing its lucrative sugar farms. Gen. Galvez was to lead the land forces. This effort stopped as peace negotiations advanced. 1783 Sept 03 - The Treaty of Paris ended hostilities and returned to Spain the North American territories that had been ceded to Great Britain in the Treaty of 1763 PRINT RESOURCES: See references for Thomas Chavez

Spain's Involvement in North America: 1784 to 1800  Spain did not agree to several parts of the treaty agreed to by Great Britain and the U.S. Spain considered the northern boundary for Florida to be 100 miles north of the treaty line and would not give U.S. boats free passage down the Mississippi (Spain held the west bank and the U.S. the east bank). These points were finally resolved in the U.S. favor by the Treaty of San Lorenzo) in 1795. [Ref.: Boatner, Encyclopedia of the American Revolution]

Resources for Further Study  Spanish Covert Aid, Hispanics in the Revolution, by Dr. Mildred Murry and Charles Lampman (California Society SAR) [Scholar's Showcase in americanrevolution.org] California During the Revolution, by Dr. Leon Campbell [Scholar's Showcase in americanrevolution.org] Ethnic Heritage - The Spanish [The SAR Magazine for Fall, 2000] by Charles Lampman (California Society SAR) describes assistance provided by Spain during the American Revolution. The Global War of 1778-83, by Granville W. Hough (California Society SAR), describes the influence of Spain on the battles in North America and around the world. Spain and Cuba in the Independence of the United States [PDF file, Empire State Soc. Newsletter, SAR] Spain's activities in Louisiana and Florida, by Edward Butler (Texas Society SAR) Spain's Involvement in the American Revolutionary War, by Edward Butler (Texas Society SAR), from NGS News Magazine 28:2 (Mar/Apr 2002) pp 122-125; and 28:5 (Sept/Oct 2002) pp 304-307; posted with the author's permission. Artifacts.com, created by John Powell, displays images and drawings of many colonial military artifacts from Spanish Florida and some from other Spanish territories in North America. The site also describes the historical events during which these items were used.

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