AHC: War of Spanish Succession endangers Spanish control of its American colonies?

[Rob]

It's well known that the Napoleonic Wars and peninsular war in particular distracted and devastated Spain in a way that was conducive to the independence of Spanish America.

Could any wars from 1550 to 1750 have had such a similar debilitating effect? Especially I would think the war of Spanish succession?

[Alex Milman]

Post by Rob
It's well known that the Napoleonic Wars and peninsular war in particular distracted and devastated Spain in a way that was conducive to the independence of Spanish America.
Could any wars from 1550 to 1750 have had such a similar debilitating effect? Especially I would think the war of Spanish succession?

In some areas they could replace the Spanish rule with someone else's rule.

[Rob]

Post by Alex Milman

Post by Rob
It's well known that the Napoleonic Wars and peninsular war in particular distracted and devastated Spain in a way that was conducive to the independence of Spanish America.
Could any wars from 1550 to 1750 have had such a similar debilitating effect? Especially I would think the war of Spanish succession?

In some areas they could replace the Spanish rule with someone else's rule.

Who? Native rebels? Local viceroys, other big colonial powers?

And where? Just Caribbean islands like Puerto Rico, or large mainland territories?

[Alex Milman]

Post by Rob

Post by Alex Milman

Post by Rob
It's well known that the Napoleonic Wars and peninsular war in particular distracted and devastated Spain in a way that was conducive to the independence of Spanish America.
Could any wars from 1550 to 1750 have had such a similar debilitating effect? Especially I would think the war of Spanish succession?

In some areas they could replace the Spanish rule with someone else's rule.

Who? Native rebels? Local viceroys, other big colonial powers?

Other colonial powers.

Post by Rob
And where? Just Caribbean islands like Puerto Rico, or large mainland territories?

[Pete Barrett]

Post by Rob
It's well known that the Napoleonic Wars and peninsular war in
particular distracted and devastated Spain in a way that was conducive
to the independence of Spanish America.
Could any wars from 1550 to 1750 have had such a similar debilitating
effect? Especially I would think the war of Spanish succession?

It may be that what's at issue is not so much the strength of Spain, but
the size and political maturity of its New World colonies. Wikipedia
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Spain#Demographics) says that at the
start of the 17th century, Mexico was depopulated; that seems reasonable,
and is likely to be true of the rest of the Spanish possessions. By the
time of independence, the population had recovered to 5 million or more,
which is perhaps a better basis for independence.

The example of the US might also be relevant. Without saying that it
couldn't have happened until the US had successfully gained its
independence as a republic, its example must have made a move for
independence by the Spanish colonies in the New World more likely.

[Rob]

Post by Pete Barrett

Post by Rob
It's well known that the Napoleonic Wars and peninsular war in
particular distracted and devastated Spain in a way that was conducive
to the independence of Spanish America.
Could any wars from 1550 to 1750 have had such a similar debilitating
effect? Especially I would think the war of Spanish succession?

It may be that what's at issue is not so much the strength of Spain, but
the size and political maturity of its New World colonies. Wikipedia
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Spain#Demographics) says that at the
start of the 17th century, Mexico was depopulated; that seems reasonable,
and is likely to be true of the rest of the Spanish possessions. By the
time of independence, the population had recovered to 5 million or more,
which is perhaps a better basis for independence.
The example of the US might also be relevant. Without saying that it
couldn't have happened until the US had successfully gained its
independence as a republic, its example must have made a move for
independence by the Spanish colonies in the New World more likely.
--
Pete BARRETT

This is a good point. I suppose the smaller populations and lack of an example make independence harder. But....I would think the smaller populations would make transfer to another conquering colonizer easier. IE, A British invasion of La Plata in 1708 or 1608 maybe has more of a chance of sticking than one 1808.

[Pete Barrett]

Post by Rob

Post by Pete Barrett

Post by Rob
It's well known that the Napoleonic Wars and peninsular war in
particular distracted and devastated Spain in a way that was
conducive to the independence of Spanish America.
Could any wars from 1550 to 1750 have had such a similar debilitating
effect? Especially I would think the war of Spanish succession?

It may be that what's at issue is not so much the strength of Spain,
but the size and political maturity of its New World colonies.
Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Spain#Demographics) says
that at the start of the 17th century, Mexico was depopulated; that
seems reasonable,
and is likely to be true of the rest of the Spanish possessions. By the
time of independence, the population had recovered to 5 million or
more, which is perhaps a better basis for independence.
The example of the US might also be relevant. Without saying that it
couldn't have happened until the US had successfully gained its
independence as a republic, its example must have made a move for
independence by the Spanish colonies in the New World more likely.
--
Pete BARRETT

This is a good point. I suppose the smaller populations and lack of an
example make independence harder. But....I would think the smaller
populations would make transfer to another conquering colonizer easier.
IE, A British invasion of La Plata in 1708 or 1608 maybe has more of a
chance of sticking than one 1808.

Well, some of the Spanish possessions did change hands in the period
(Tobago did so several times) - Britain gained Jamaica and other
Caribbean islands (names like 'Trinidad' are a dead giveaway), and
temporarily gained Florida; France gained part of Hispaniola; and Spain
gained Louisiana temporarily. But all these were transfers to other
European powers, not independence.