I'm curious about what might occur if the Spanish empire and the young US were to go to war. In the early 19th century, Spain's empire and the United States were not all that friendly. Firstly, the Americans had long suspected the Spaniards in Florida of giving support and shelter to raiding Indians. Secondly, the Spanish, if I recall, had attempted to intercept the Lewis and Clark's expedition with force, a very unfriendly gesture. And most importantly, Spanish land, sparsely settled and rich in valuable land would justify US attacks on the basis of expansion.
Though the Spanish empire was notoriously corrupt and ineptly ruled be and was much weaker after the napoleonic wars, the nation was still pretty relevant before it lost its vast territories. While I don't think that the Spaniards would have ever tried to conquer the USA, I do not find it hard to imagine them going to war between about 1805 and 1830 with defensive aims. Some in the USA bold (and stupid) enough to attack British territory in 1812 so it is not a big stretch to imagine that someone might want to provoke a war of conquest against a dying empire like Spain.
For those of you who know a lot about the late Spanish empire: 1. how well, if at all, do you think they would fight an American attack? 2. What areas would the Spanish be willing to give up to protect others? 3. What would be the effects of a defeat on the country?
And as for the Americans, what would be their ultimate objectives? How far would this war go?
Though the Spanish empire was notoriously corrupt and ineptly ruled be and was much weaker after the napoleonic wars, the nation was still pretty relevant before it lost its vast territories. While I don't think that the Spaniards would have ever tried to conquer the USA, I do not find it hard to imagine them going to war between about 1805 and 1830 with defensive aims. Some in the USA bold (and stupid) enough to attack British territory in 1812 so it is not a big stretch to imagine that someone might want to provoke a war of conquest against a dying empire like Spain.
For those of you who know a lot about the late Spanish empire: 1. how well, if at all, do you think they would fight an American attack? 2. What areas would the Spanish be willing to give up to protect others? 3. What would be the effects of a defeat on the country?
And as for the Americans, what would be their ultimate objectives? How far would this war go?