We begin in 1763. Almost the entire American continent is dominated
by the European colonial powers. Spain has a very large territory. In the south, the Portuguese control Brazil. On the Central American islands, mainly France
and Great Britain develop huge sugar cane and coffee plantations by importing slaves
from Africa. Finally, the North is largely under the control
of Great Britain after its victory in the Seven Years' War. The British dominate all their rivals, notably
thanks to the powerful Royal Navy. But the war has taken its toll on the country's
finances, and to replenish its coffers, it imposes new taxes on its colonies. Thirteen of them are opposed to this and tensions
rise, finally provoking the American Revolutionary War. France, Spain and the United Provinces take
advantage of the situation to ally themselves with the independence fighters in order to
weaken Great Britain. Finally, the British are defeated and forced
to recognize the independence of the United States of America, which is the first European colony to become independent. From the very first years, the United States
colonists have been extending their possessions westward to the detriment of the indigenous populations, which provokes numerous internal wars. In France, after the Seven Years' War and
the American Revolutionary War, the economic situation is catastrophic, which contributes
to the outbreak of the French Revolution. The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of
the Citizen is proclaimed. It states that "Men are born and remain free
and equal in rights". In the rich colony of Saint-Domingue, these
words provoke a slave and freedmen revolt against the great landlords, also called the
Planters. Spain and Great Britain join forces to fight
the insurgents. But the insurgents win and occupy the whole
island. Napoleon Bonaparte, who has seized power in
France, understands that it would be difficult to reassert his sovereignty over his distant
territories. He sends an army to Saint-Domingue and decides
to sell Louisiana which he secretely obtained from Spain three years earlier to the United States. In Saint-Domingue, the French soldiers, weakened
by disease, are defeated. On January 1, 1804, the independence of Haiti
is proclaimed. It is the only republic born from a revolution
of slaves and freedmen. In Europe, the United Kingdom inflicts a heavy
defeat on the Spanish and French fleets at the Battle of Trafalgar. The country confirms its domination of the
seas. But Napoleon, who dominates Europe, opts for
economic warfare and imposes a continental blockade. The United Kingdom, in the midst of the industrial
revolution, absolutely needs to find new markets to sell its goods. Taking advantage of the decline of Spain,
it turns to America, but Spain officially prohibited trade with the British. The United Kingdom attempts two military incursions
into the Viceroyalty of the Rio de la Plata, but is repelled by the Creoles, the descendants
of Spanish settlers born in America. In Spain, King Charles IV and his son Ferdinand
VII are quarrelling over the throne. Napoleon takes advantage of this and places
his brother Joseph at the head of the country. This is not accepted in the Spanish colonies
where juntas, which means local governments, favorable to King Ferdinand VII, are organized. Conflicts appear everywhere. In New Spain, the priest Miguel Hidalgo calls
on the people to rise up. Independence movements now appear, secretly
supported by the British and motivated by revolutionary Masonic lodges. In 1814, after the abdication of Napoleon,
Ferdinand VII recovers the Spanish throne and quickly sends reinforcements to America
to regain control. Paraguay manages to resist, as well as the
United Provinces of the Rio de la Plata, which proclaims its independence. In January 1817, the separatists San Martín
and O'Higgins cross the Andes from the east with an army and seize Santiago. O'Higgins is appointed Supreme director and
proclaims Chilean independence. In the north, another independence army led
by Simon Bolivar and reinforced by the British Legion leaves Angostura, crosses the Andes, and defeats the Spaniards at the gates of Santa Fe de Bogotá. Bolivar then proclaims the independence of
Gran Colombia, of which he becomes president, although he doesn’t yet control the entire
territory. In reaction, Ferdinand VII raises a new army,
but the latter revolts and refuses to leave Cadiz. Taking advantage of the situation, San Martin
lands in Peru, seizes Lima, and proclaims the country's independence, although the Amazonian
territory is still controlled by the royalists. In New Spain, after 11 years of war, the independents
win and proclaim the Mexican Empire. In the south, Quito is liberated by the independence
armies. Bolivar and San Martín then meet in Guayaquil. Nobody knows what they say to each other,
but San Martin gives up part of his army to Bolivar and then discreetly withdraws. In Brazil, the Portuguese royal family and
its court have been installed in Rio de Janeiro since the invasion of Portugal by Napoleon. Despite the liberation of the country in 1811,
the royal family decided to stay in Brazil. However, the difficult political situation
in Portugal forces King John VI to return to the country in a hurry. But his heir, son Peter, who remained in Brazil, now enters into conflict with the Portuguese government and proclaims the independence of Brazil, of which he becomes Emperor. In Central America, Mexico struggles to consolidate. The south secedes and the United Provinces
of Central America is proclaimed. Throughout the continent, instability is great,
which worries the United States. President James Monroe then declares to the
Europeans that the United States would no longer accept new attempts at colonization
on the American continent. In the south, the last royalist pockets are
defeated by the army of General Sucre. Bolivia is created, named after Simon Bolivar. The latter now dreams of uniting all the American
republics under a great common authority. But internal divisions cause this project
to fail. In the south of the continent, a war breaks
out between the United Provinces of the Rio de la Plata and Brazil for the control of the Cisplatine Province. Brazil imposes a commercial blockade on the
ports of Buenos Aires and Montevideo, but its armies fail to prevail on land. Unable to neutralize each other and financially
exhausted, both appeal to the United Kingdom for arbitration. The British, during the peace treaty, obtain
the creation of Uruguay as a buffer state. The United Kingdom, by becoming the guarantor
of stability in the region, protects its commercial interests. At the end of 1829, Venezuela secedes from
Gran Colombia. Bolivar, whose health is deteriorating, fails
to find a solution and resigns. Gran Colombia breaks up and immediately conflicts
arise over the delimitation of the new borders. In Mexico, after the abolition of slavery,
the United States colonists, who are in the majority in Texas, rebel. A civil war breaks out and leads to the proclamation
of independence of the Republic of Texas, recognized by the United States. In the United Provinces of Central America,
unity is also undermined and the five states that make it up declare independence. Finally, in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, which has been occupied since 1822, also obtains its independence. In 1845, the United States, which wants to
expand westward, annexes Texas. But a border disagreement with Mexico provokes
a war. At the same time, the British and the United
States agree on sharing the Oregon Country that was joint controlled. In 1848, after the victory of the United States, Mexico is forced to recognize the annexation of Texas and gives up a huge territory. In California, the discovery of gold causes
a rush that attracts people from all over the world, including Asia. In the far north of the continent, the Russian
Empire, in fear of losing Alaska to their rival the British, chooses to sell its territory to the United States. In the same year, the United Kingdom authorizes
the union of three provinces in the north to ensure their protection from the United States, which seems to want to expand. They form the Dominion of Canada, which gains
more autonomy and will over the next years integrate the neighbouring British colonies. Due to border disputes, Paraguay has been
at war for two years with the Triple Alliance of Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. In 1870, Paraguay is occupied, whereupon a large part of its territory is amputated, leaving a deeply devastated country. Further west, tensions also rise between Chile
and Bolivia over a territory rich in mineral deposits. When Bolivia increases taxes on Chilean companies
present in the region, Chile decides to occupy the port of Antofagasta to control exports. War breaks out, involving Peru, which is allied
with Bolivia. Chile quickly wins and extends its territory
to the north, cutting off Bolivia's access to the ocean. At the same time, in the south, the Mapuches,
who had resisted the Inca and Spanish invasions, are now invaded by Argentina and Chile who
want to have access to both oceans. The local populations are violently crushed. In Cuba, a new independence revolt provokes
a war against Spain. The United States, which now wants to implement
an international policy, sees an opportunity to extend its influence. They intervene militarily against Spain and
win. The independence of Cuba is confirmed and
the last Spanish colonies in America and the Pacific come under US control. In Colombia, a French company begins the construction
of a canal that will link the two oceans. This interests the United States because it
will considerably shorten the maritime route between its two coasts. The country buys the project, but the Colombian
Congress opposes it. Annoyed, the United States sends warships,
while separatists proclaim the independence of Panama. In a few days, the United States recognizes
the new country. In exchange, it obtains a strip of land in
perpetuity for the construction and operation of the Panama Canal. But the Panamanians quickly contest this treaty. During World War I, the European colonies
are heavily involved. This is particularly true of Canada, which
carries out a major war effort on behalf of the United Kingdom. At the end of the war, Canada asks for greater
autonomy. In 1926, equality with the United Kingdom
is proclaimed, followed by its sovereignty being recognized in 1931, although the country remains linked to the British crown by becoming a member of the Commonwealth. In the south of the continent, conflicts persist
over the delimitation of borders. In 1932, Bolivia and Paraguay go to war over
control of the Chaco, a region where oil has just been discovered and which offers access
to the Atlantic Ocean via the Paraguay River. Paraguay wins and takes 75% of the territory. Peru and Ecuador also dispute their border. A new war breaks out in 1941 and turns to
the advantage of Peru, which takes over a large part of the territory located in the
Amazon. At the end of World War II, the United Kingdom
and France are weakened while the first colonies claim their independence. In 1946, several French colonies in America
become French departments. The United Kingdom finally grants independence
to the colonies that request it, only if the new governments are not communist, as the
world is now in the midst of the Cold War. The new states are offered the option of joining
the Commonwealth. In 1962, Jamaica and the Republic of Trinidad
and Tobago are the first to declare independence. Most of the British colonies, as well as Suriname,
become independent in turn. However, some islands remain under British
control. This is the case for the Falklands, called
the Malvinas in Argentina, which are a gateway to the Antarctic continent. The islands are claimed by Argentina, which
attempts a military invasion in 1982. War breaks out. The United Kingdom repels the offensive and
wins. Today, France, the United Kingdom, and the
Netherlands still control some American territories, mainly in the Caribbean. According to the United Nations, some British
and U.S. territories are still "non-self-governing". In Puerto Rico, the inhabitants enjoy U.S.
citizenship, but don’t have the right to vote in presidential elections. Panama regains full sovereignty over its canal
on December 31st, 1999. Throughout the continent, disputes persist
over the exact delimitation of land borders, while some indigenous communities also clamor
to assert their rights. If the subject is still very sensitive for
European countries, the Catholic Church has presented - on several occasions since 1992
- its official apology for the abuses perpetrated during the evangelization and colonization
of America. Today, after many waves of immigration, America
is probably the continent with the greatest ethnic diversity.
