![]() ![]() People of Spanish heritage established roots in North America centuries before the Civil War. National Park Service, Castillo de San Marcos National Monument Augustine, Florida, the first permanent European settlement in the continental United States. Spanish Roots in American SoilĬompleted in 1672, Castillo de San Marcos symbolizes the Spanish heritage of St. By the close of the war, more than 20,000 Hispanics had participated in the bloody conflict and thousands of Hispanic civilians had lent hearts and hands on the homefront, weaving their own individual stories into this important national fabric. Patriotism, personal gain, regional conditions, and history all played a role in their decisions. They represented all socio-economic levels, from wealthy aristocrats fighting to preserve a way of life to impoverished laborers seeking to improve their fortunes. They responded to a variety of motives, public and private. Some had little choice as they were swept into the maelstrom.įrom the first shots at Fort Sumter, South Carolina, in 1861 to the last action at Palmito Ranch, Texas, in 1865, many Hispanics made a conscious decision to join the fight: some for the Union and some for the Confederacy. When the nation split in two, many were forced to choose whether to support the Union or the Confederacy. Others were recent immigrants from Spain and Latin America, drawn to the United States to improve their lives. Many had suddenly found themselves classified as Americans when the United States expanded its boundaries. ![]() ![]() Some traced their ancestry to explorers who settled in North America generations ahead of the English. ![]() When the conflict erupted, they lived in all parts of the country. Like all Americans, Hispanics were deeply affected by the Civil War. Lesser known is the story of the people of Spanish ancestry who participated in this epic conflict and of the many battles that took place in the West, in areas of large Hispanic populations and strong Spanish heritage. For many Americans this conflict evokes images of the storied battlefields of North and South and of dramatic changes in the lives of Americans of African and Anglo descent. National Park Service, Fort Union National Monument ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply.AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |