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Hispanic Heritage

Events in Hispanic American history

1492-1600 | 1601-1700 | 1701-1800 | 1801-1825 | 1826-1850
1851-1875 | 1876-1900 | 1901-1940 | 1941-1970 | 1971-

1717

English and French slave trading companies secure permission to bring African slaves into Spanish lands in the Americas.

The San Antonio de Béjar and de Valero churches are built where the city of San Antonio is located today.

1738

The first free black community in what became the mainland United States was established at Fort Mose in Spanish Florida.

1760

Captain Blas Maria de la Garza Falcón obtains a grant to 975,000 acres of land in Texas. In time, this ranch will become the King Ranch, the largest cattle ranch in the United States. Large-scale ranching in Texas has begun.

In the peace treaty after the Seven Years' War (1756-1763), France cedes claims to American holdings. Britain gains Canada and all of the French territories east of the Mississippi, and also receives Florida from Spain. France gives Louisiana and its lands west of the Mississippi to Spain to keep them out of British hands. Overnight, New Spain's territory expands dramatically.

1766

King Charles III expels the Jesuits from the Spanish Empire. With the Jesuits gone, the Franciscans become the primary missionaries in Spanish America.

September 17. The presidio of San Francisco is founded, becoming Spain's northernmost frontier outpost.

1769

July 3. Franciscan missionary Junípero de Serra establishes the first mission of Alta California in what would become San Diego. Serra eventually founded ten missions, traveled more than 10,000 miles, and converted close to 6,800 natives.

1770-1790

At least 50,000 African slaves are brought to Cuba to work in sugar production.

1774

Pedro de Garcés, a Spanish Franciscan missionary, founds the first overland route to California.

1776

Anglo-Americans declare their independence from England The thirteen former British colonies come to be known as the United States of America in 1781.

1783

Spain regains Florida.

1790s-1820s

Hispanic settlements begin to thrive in Pimería Alta (California). At one point as many as 1,000 Hispanics live in the Santa Cruz Valley.

1798

The Alien Act of 1798 grants the U.S. president the authority to expel any alien deemed dangerous. Opposed by President Thomas Jefferson, the Alien Act expires under its own terms in 1800.

The Naturalization Act of 1798 raises the number of years, from 5 to 14, an immigrant has to live in the United States before becoming eligible for citizenship.

Source: Hispanic-American Almanac, Gale, 1997.