Timeline of Spanish Colonialism in Latin America: 1500-1800 by

1492: Columbus Arrives at the Americas

sa20475n — 2024-03-05 04:27:21 UTC

Marking the start of Spanish exploration and conquest in the Americas, Christopher Columbus encountered the Americas in 1492, while searching for a westward route that led to Asia. This event paved the way for further expeditions and the eventual colonization of vast portions of the New World.

1519-1521: Fall of the Aztec Empire

sa20475n — 2024-03-05 04:27:21 UTC

The slave-based city-state of Tenochtitlan, as well as cities of Mayans and Incas left Spaniards awestruck. Hernán Cortés, leading a group of Spanish explorers and native allies, captures Tenochtitlán, the capital of the Aztec Empire, after a brutal campaign. The battle of Tenochtitlan, an eight-day siege of the capital, led to 240,000 native casualties.This monumental victory secures Spain's dominance over what is now Mexico and marks the beginning of the colonial era in Latin America.

1533: Conquest of the Inca Empire

sa20475n — 2024-03-05 04:27:21 UTC

In 1533, a conquistador of the name, Francisco Pizarro, concluded his conquest of the Inca Empire, significantly expanding Spanish influence in South America. The fall of the Inca Empire marked a crucial moment in the history of Spanish colonialism, highlighting the impact of European expansion on indigenous civilizations.

1542: The New Laws

sa20475n — 2024-03-05 04:27:21 UTC

Bartolome de las Casas supported the Indians and defended indigenous people through campaigns that shined light on the dismissive ways of Indian enslavement. With Las Casas constant efforts, Spain enacts the New Laws, intended to protect the indigenous peoples of the Americas from enslavement and mistreatment by Spanish colonists. Enforcement of the laws was uneven and many landowners in different regions ignored the laws and kept Indians enslaved. Albeit,they represent an early attempt at establishing human rights for indigenous populations within a colonial framework.

1846-1848: The Mexican-American War

sa20475n — 2024-03-05 04:27:22 UTC

The U.S. army invaded Mexico during this conflict, which is often recognized by Mexicans as the "American intervention," due to a dispute over Texas's border with the United States. Texas's admittance to the US infuriated Mexican officials given that they did not see Texas as a true American territory. A peace treaty brought the conflict to a conclusion, but not before the US massacred thousands of people and won every battle. Mexico's territory was reduced by half.

19th Century - What conspired from colonialism

sa20475n — 2024-03-05 04:27:22 UTC

By the early years of the 19th century, 300 years of colonialism had divided the new world into 2 huge contending cultural groups. The Anglo-Saxons were the first cultural group, they spoke Old English and resided across most of present-day England. They ascribed their roots to Germanic immigrants who settled in Britain in the fifth century from Europe's mainland. The second group was Spanish Latin which is what modern day Latin America is. Their roots come from Spain, embracing the language, religion and other cultural aspects.

Mid-16th Century: The Role of the Church

sa20475n — 2024-03-05 04:27:24 UTC

As Spanish Imperialism rose all throughout Latin America, Spain saw colonialism as the unification of land expansion and religion conversion. Spanish rulers followed the dictates of Pope Alexander VI. When sending armies to civilizations in South America, Priests accompanied them for the sole purpose of Christianizing the natives. As Indigenous people adapted to Catholicism, Spaniard and Natives began to mix. 26 Spanish-Indian marriages were recorded, introducing a new mestizo race in America.

Early 19th Century: Liberation Campaigns of Simon Bolivar

sa20475n — 2024-03-05 04:27:25 UTC

Simon Bolivar, born Criollo, known as 'El Libertador', played a crucial role in the liberation of New Granada, Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador from Spanish rule in the early 19th century. His campaigns significantly contributed to the end of Spanish colonialism in the continent. He created the Decree on Indian Rights, Lands, and Tribute, which protected Indigenous communities. Although his assistance guided most of South America towards independence, he still set annual taxes specifically to Indigenous people that further set them apart from colonists.

16th Century: The Encomienda System

sa20475n — 2024-03-05 04:27:25 UTC

The encomienda system, implemented by the Spanish to regulate and control indigenous labor and behavior in the Americas, became infamous for its brutal exploitation and significant role in decimating indigenous populations through overwork and disease. Under this system, colonists were supposed to grant the labourers with protection and education but this part of the apparatus never occurred. Power was immediately abused.

1898: Spanish-American war

sa20475n — 2024-03-05 04:27:26 UTC

The Spanish-American War, spanning from April to December of 1898, resulted in U.S possession of Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippines. The war originated in Cuba where individuals called for their independence from Spain. A main factor that influenced this war was Yellow Journalism. Yellow journalism is the act of creating fake and enticing headlines to cause commotion, which is exactly what journalist Hearst did. The formation of new narratives changed the views of the general public, making them believe that America would be the country to save Cuba from the shackles of Cuba.

1848: Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

sa20475n — 2024-03-05 22:04:09 UTC

The Mexican–American War officially came to an end by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. In Guadalupe Hidalgo, on February 2, 1848, it was ratified. Mexico and the United States began negotiations on peace in September 1847, amid the army's defeat and the destruction of the city. In this treaty, Mexico ceded 55% of its territory, including the present-day states California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, most of Arizona and Colorado, and parts of Oklahoma, Kansas, and Wyoming.