Sobre la supuesta influencia de la independencia de los Estados Unidos en las independencias hispanoamericanas

Abstract

The independence of the United States did not influence the Spanish Americans to separate from the Spanish Monarchy. Their failure to act did not stem from ignorance. On the contrary, numerous printed works provided them with detailed information about events in North America. Since the Seven years war Spanish language newspapers and publications kept the public informed about the discontent in the North American colonies, the process of independence, and the establishment of a republican government. Subsequently, an unprecedented event, the French invasion of the Spanish peninsula, transformed the Hispanic world. The ouster of the Spanish king triggered a series of events that culminated in the establishment of representative government in that world wide polity and eventually resulted in the dissolution of the composite Spanish Monarchy. Thus, the independence of the United States and of Spanish America occurred not only at different times, but also under different circumstances.