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Our America: A Hispanic History of the United States
The United States is still typically conceived of as an offshoot of England, with our history unfolding east to west beginning with the first English settlers in Jamestown. This view overlooks the significance of America’s Hispanic past. With the profile of the United States increasingly Hispanic, the importance of recovering the Hispanic dimension to our national story has never been greater.
This absorbing narrative begins with the explorers and conquistadores who planted Spain’s first colonies in Puerto Rico, Florida, and the Southwest. Missionaries and rancheros carry Spain’s expansive impulse into the late eighteenth century, settling California, mapping the American interior to the Rockies, and charting the Pacific coast. During the nineteenth century Anglo-America expands west under the banner of “Manifest Destiny” and consolidates control through war with Mexico. In the Hispanic resurgence that follows, it is the peoples of Latin America who overspread the continent, from the Hispanic heartland in the West to major cities such as Chicago, Miami, New York, and Boston. The United States clearly has a Hispanic present and future.
And here is its Hispanic past, presented with characteristic insight and wit by one of our greatest historians.
This absorbing narrative begins with the explorers and conquistadores who planted Spain’s first colonies in Puerto Rico, Florida, and the Southwest. Missionaries and rancheros carry Spain’s expansive impulse into the late eighteenth century, settling California, mapping the American interior to the Rockies, and charting the Pacific coast. During the nineteenth century Anglo-America expands west under the banner of “Manifest Destiny” and consolidates control through war with Mexico. In the Hispanic resurgence that follows, it is the peoples of Latin America who overspread the continent, from the Hispanic heartland in the West to major cities such as Chicago, Miami, New York, and Boston. The United States clearly has a Hispanic present and future.
And here is its Hispanic past, presented with characteristic insight and wit by one of our greatest historians.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published January 20, 2014
82 people are currently reading
968 people want to read
About the author
Felipe Fernández-Armesto
131 books182 followersFelipe Fernández-Armesto is a British professor of history at the University of Notre Dame and author of several popular works, notably on cultural and environmental history.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
March 20, 2016
I actually only listened to about two-thirds of this book. Got tired of being bludgeoned with six repetitions per page of 'the Hispanic tradition is older than the English tradition in America' and the assumption that I didn't know anything about the tragic history of how badly Native Americans and Mexican residents of southern and western lands have been treated.
There are three potential audiences for this book. Unfortunately it will insult the intelligence of those who start with some sympathetic understanding and are looking for deeper knowledge. It will stridently alienate those who have some idea that things like this occurred but aren't bothered that that's how their community came to be a place where they are comfortable now. I guess there are those who would start with no background at all, but a 2x4 is just not an effective pedagogical approach or an elegant stylist's tool.
I did enjoy learning more history about the Cortina who was the basis of Carmen Boullosa's Texas: the Great Theft. I recommend skipping this book and reading Boullosa instead. She is much more effective at portraying the complexity and tragedy.
There are three potential audiences for this book. Unfortunately it will insult the intelligence of those who start with some sympathetic understanding and are looking for deeper knowledge. It will stridently alienate those who have some idea that things like this occurred but aren't bothered that that's how their community came to be a place where they are comfortable now. I guess there are those who would start with no background at all, but a 2x4 is just not an effective pedagogical approach or an elegant stylist's tool.
I did enjoy learning more history about the Cortina who was the basis of Carmen Boullosa's Texas: the Great Theft. I recommend skipping this book and reading Boullosa instead. She is much more effective at portraying the complexity and tragedy.
February 26, 2019
While this book will evoke much resonance for its contemporaneity, its good sense, it is an historical provocation of the first order; it is the wealth of historical detail which appeals to this reader. For instance, when the Jesuits were expelled from Spanish lands in 1767, "The Baja was virtually a Jesuit republic. The expulsion...deprived the monarchy of its most determined frontiersmen"(112). The ways in which accommodation were reached between brothers and indios are multiple; for instance, while the brothers were strict enough on sexaul matters, locking up Indian girls, they were more indulgent on indifferent traditions like dancing and traditional healing" (115). The towns around the missions grew little in the late 18C, partly because of the indios' desire for their former hunting life, partly because farming brought better diet, fattening and sickening. (Hmm.. Is that an historical or a 21st C point?)
And the internecine struggles between secular administrators and the monasteries provide fruitful accounts of human individualities and differences. For instance, it must have proven difficult to impress Fray Jose Maria Zalvidea, who "constantly flogged himself, wore hairshirt, and drove nails into his feet." Others had spasms of drunkenness and lunacy, perhaps indistinguishable.
Meanwhile, some administrators threatened to take away the mission lands (which they had by royal grant) and authority, including their right to confirm baptized indios. Seems like England's Henry VIII was not alone in considering the acquisition of institutions built by the enticements and amalgamations of the religious.
And the internecine struggles between secular administrators and the monasteries provide fruitful accounts of human individualities and differences. For instance, it must have proven difficult to impress Fray Jose Maria Zalvidea, who "constantly flogged himself, wore hairshirt, and drove nails into his feet." Others had spasms of drunkenness and lunacy, perhaps indistinguishable.
Meanwhile, some administrators threatened to take away the mission lands (which they had by royal grant) and authority, including their right to confirm baptized indios. Seems like England's Henry VIII was not alone in considering the acquisition of institutions built by the enticements and amalgamations of the religious.
April 16, 2014
In Our America, Fernandez-Armesto unveils a side of American history that deserves to come into the light: the role of Latinos throughout every state of U.S. history and many of the developments before. In this book he provides an historical re-focus in the very way that Howard Zinn was able to develop the identity of natives, workers, and women in his class, People's History.
Armesto organizes the book in a unique way--focusing on diverse Latin civilizations to tell the story, more than a more chronological pattern. There is a chapter on Puerto Rico, the oldest European settlement under U.S. control, populated by Europeans since 1502, just ten years after Columbus. He includes a fascinating chapter on California (from missions to the Gold Rush), one on Texas, and one on present-day opportunities made possible by what he calls a Latino "recolonization" of the United States.
One thought that struck me as I read the book, was how easily I had dismissed the violence and genocide depicted in the novels of American writers like Phillip Meyer and Cormac McCarthy. Suddenly, Blood Meridian seems a lot more realistic than I expected when I read it years ago. The border was indeed drenched in blood.
Armesto organizes the book in a unique way--focusing on diverse Latin civilizations to tell the story, more than a more chronological pattern. There is a chapter on Puerto Rico, the oldest European settlement under U.S. control, populated by Europeans since 1502, just ten years after Columbus. He includes a fascinating chapter on California (from missions to the Gold Rush), one on Texas, and one on present-day opportunities made possible by what he calls a Latino "recolonization" of the United States.
One thought that struck me as I read the book, was how easily I had dismissed the violence and genocide depicted in the novels of American writers like Phillip Meyer and Cormac McCarthy. Suddenly, Blood Meridian seems a lot more realistic than I expected when I read it years ago. The border was indeed drenched in blood.
May 13, 2014
I really liked this book. Growing up in California, I feel like I got more Hispanic history than what some others get. After reading just this one book I realized that my education was lacking. This book encourages us to look at US history not from an east to west perspective, but a joint east to west, south to north perspective. The author described it more as a plaid perspective, rather than striped.
Analyzing US history this way helps later events, like the Mexican-American war, Spanish-American War, the Mormons settling the west, and the transcontinental railroad fall into place easily and fit into a bigger picture. It also helps set the stage better for current politics and events. The author does a great job describing immigration cycles based on political and economic movements in the US.
All this leads to a conclusion that the United States has both a Hispanic past and future, and that a better understanding of the past will make a pluralistic future easier, and for some people, less scary.
Analyzing US history this way helps later events, like the Mexican-American war, Spanish-American War, the Mormons settling the west, and the transcontinental railroad fall into place easily and fit into a bigger picture. It also helps set the stage better for current politics and events. The author does a great job describing immigration cycles based on political and economic movements in the US.
All this leads to a conclusion that the United States has both a Hispanic past and future, and that a better understanding of the past will make a pluralistic future easier, and for some people, less scary.
August 12, 2018
Recommended for those seeking a fuller understanding of U.S. history, questions of Latinx/Hispanic migration, and a view of changing demographics in the U.S. Published in 2014, so some of the author's predictions have not proved true, but interesting to consider in light of the history.
July 27, 2014
Excellent alternative thought as to the South to North settling of the United States, rather than the East to West only. The author, a Spanish born, British educated scholar and university professor has an agenda towards the final chapters on the social issues created by backlash to original immigrants and immigrants both legal and undocumented. The history in the former chapters is most interesting and gives pause to the limited version our public schools typically expose students to.
January 7, 2020
Very historically informative and makes some great points but, having been written before the 2016 elections, his predictions about U.S. social and political acceptance of Hispanic immigrants unfortunately turn out to have been far too optimistic.
June 16, 2025
This book is valuable for the history it tells us. But it does not matter at the end for simply its heart is not in the right place. It does not share the Story of the American Empire against its people but instead of one American Empire against the Other (the Spanish against the Anglo). And by being 'hispanic' the book is the court history of the deceased and forgotten Spanish Empire which Fernandez-Armesto seeks to protect in so many ways. That the Spanish coloniser was occupied by a Stranger Syndrome by which they venerate the foreigner - the Indian in this case (what about all the thousands of lost Californian and Texan Indians in the Missions of Serra and San Antonio, the author does not talk about). That unlike the Anglos, the Spaniards truly learned from the Natives (he therefore seeks to rescue Thanksgiving too). And that the Spanish Empire was not rooted in Enlightenment Racism that imagined the Other as a Dark Savage but Catholic Humanism. Very troubled and confused book.
October 16, 2024
This was a great approach to US history from a different angle than I'd seen before. The author is kind of a snob (his working at Notre Dame doesn't help my assessment) but I look forward to reading more of his work if it's this good.
July 4, 2016
Spain disappears from American history books following the Spanish-American war, in which the tired old empire was given a sound thrashing and retreated from the hemisphere, but Spanish America isn't a thing of the past. Its heritage is older than English America, not only because the Spanish arrived first but because Spanish colonialism fused itself with the peoples and culture which it found. Our America is a history of Spanish America, principally Mexico, delivered from the rare perspective of a Spaniard raised partially in England. While not nearly as sweeping as Harvest of Empire: A History of Latinos in the United States, it offers abounding detail on the Anglo-Spanish struggle for power, first around the Gulf Coast and then later in the southwest as English colonies developed their own identity and ambition. It is problematic, in that a Spanish Brit spends the book lecturing a American audience on what being 'American' is, but the perspective is unusual and at times refreshing.
Fernández-Armesto examines American history not from the east to the west -- which is how, in fact, the history of the United States as a government unfolded -- but from south to north. He sees the United States as more colonial than European, and interprets affairs like the Revolution and the Civil War as part of general new-world struggles against colonial power. He sees the South's bid for independence as very kin to Mexico's own battles between centrists and decentralists, for instance . As mentioned, Our America's focus is Mexico and the Southwest, with Cubans and Puerto Ricans receiving scant attention at the very end. Our America is thus more a history of "New Spain" -- a label which, prior to the collapse of the Spanish empire during the Napoleonic wars, encompassed both areas. If Fernández-Armesto actually hailed from Mexico, this could be called a localist history of the United States, rather like a history of the US delivered from the perspective of the South. The chief weakness of this book is that the author confuses the United States and 'America' when he argues that the United States began with Spanish America. While the Euro-American experience as a whole began with Spanish exploration, the 'United States' is a government formed by thirteen States along the eastern seaboard of North America, ground never trod by the Spanish. He also attributes European success in the Americas largely to the 'stranger effect' -- an effect which included hospitality given to visiting strangers, respectful awe of travelers from afar, and the inclusion of them in native government to swing local battles for power one way or another. While it's a factor to take into account, he completely writes off the 'guns, germs, and steel' triad in favor of this social element.
As a general history of Latin America, I think Harvest of Empire superior; but the amount of detail given to Spain and England's colonial wrangling, and later the American conquest of the southwest, makes it a book of note. It's certainly gotten my interest in the Spanish colonial period fired up!
Related:
The Earth Shall Weep: A History of Native America, James Wilson
Harvest of Empire: A History of Latinos in America, Juan Gonzales
Fernández-Armesto examines American history not from the east to the west -- which is how, in fact, the history of the United States as a government unfolded -- but from south to north. He sees the United States as more colonial than European, and interprets affairs like the Revolution and the Civil War as part of general new-world struggles against colonial power. He sees the South's bid for independence as very kin to Mexico's own battles between centrists and decentralists, for instance . As mentioned, Our America's focus is Mexico and the Southwest, with Cubans and Puerto Ricans receiving scant attention at the very end. Our America is thus more a history of "New Spain" -- a label which, prior to the collapse of the Spanish empire during the Napoleonic wars, encompassed both areas. If Fernández-Armesto actually hailed from Mexico, this could be called a localist history of the United States, rather like a history of the US delivered from the perspective of the South. The chief weakness of this book is that the author confuses the United States and 'America' when he argues that the United States began with Spanish America. While the Euro-American experience as a whole began with Spanish exploration, the 'United States' is a government formed by thirteen States along the eastern seaboard of North America, ground never trod by the Spanish. He also attributes European success in the Americas largely to the 'stranger effect' -- an effect which included hospitality given to visiting strangers, respectful awe of travelers from afar, and the inclusion of them in native government to swing local battles for power one way or another. While it's a factor to take into account, he completely writes off the 'guns, germs, and steel' triad in favor of this social element.
As a general history of Latin America, I think Harvest of Empire superior; but the amount of detail given to Spain and England's colonial wrangling, and later the American conquest of the southwest, makes it a book of note. It's certainly gotten my interest in the Spanish colonial period fired up!
Related:
The Earth Shall Weep: A History of Native America, James Wilson
Harvest of Empire: A History of Latinos in America, Juan Gonzales
Read
April 2, 2014Gave up. This was interesting, but just didn't call to me to return when I set it down.
May 31, 2019
Interesting alternative perspective to WASP American History Teachings. Learned tons of documented facts not taught in history courses in our schools and colleges.
June 23, 2025
This book struck me as relevant to our very recent past, so I wished to gain some perspective on the Spanish side of the American story.
Again this is a type of social and cultural history that is usually not what I read, so this also was very difficult for me to maintain consistent interest. There are a myriad of cultural figures and authors, and many individuals whose anecdotes are constantly cited. We learn for instance about the author's maid, and her children.
This makes for a very human panoply, but one this is not exactly very exciting. I found the earliest chapters on the Spanish explorations and the contest between Mexico and the United States the most interesting, but the second half of the book I found comparatively dull.
But it does provide an enormously necessary corrective to the idea of the Anglo-Saxon genesis of the United States, and Fernandez-Armesto is full of stray observations and asides that really get the wheels spinning.
One of the most interesting arguments he makes is that the Spanish-American Wars of Independence, because they were fought in the time of Napoleon and the advent of the nation in arms, were immensely more destructive than the American Revolution, which was by comparison ad much more limited and restrained conflict.
He delves into the vicissitudes of immigration, noting that Americans sometimes desire it and sometimes abhor it, going through something like cycles commensurate with its boom and bust. In times of economic recession Americans are opposed, and in times of economic prosperity they are in favor. In this way the pendulum can act as a sort of barometer for the state of the economy.
We learn of filibusters and Mexican guerrillas and banditos. Not just Poncho Villa, but men like Cortina and Carbajal who were active in Texas. We learn of innumerable personal stories about Cubans, Dominicans, South Americans, not just Mexicans.
Another interesting insight Fernandez-Armesto provides is the idea that the masked avenger, a hero that is a staple in American culture, was perhaps inspired by Latin fictional characters like Zorro, who were originally conceived of as opponents of American imperialism. It is a fun idea to contemplate.
Another fun idea is Fernandez-Armesto's seemingly bizarre defense of Mormonism. It's hard to see them as anything other than crackpots, or to take any claims of Young or Smith with any seriousness, but the author makes the case that the Mormons are uniquely American, are historically important, and were pioneers in Western settlement. One is reluctant to concede this, but it is not easily dismissed.
Interestingly Fernandez-Armesto is not sanguine about the long-term survival of Spanish as a second language in the US, despite the enormous numbers of native speakers. I had missed my chance of being taught the language as a child, and it causes me sadness when I think about it. I would strongly advocate for a multi-lingual society, and would find the gradual erosion of Spanish to be a depressing development.
It is difficult to try to encapsulate the entire sentiment and passion in this book, one has to read it oneself. It is a shame to note that Fernandez-Armesto ends on a hopeful note, but we see know that his optimism was misplaced.
The American reaction against Latin American immigration has been intense and fierce, and we are seeing once again the US Government deporting immigrants in manners similar to earlier episodes recorded in this book. One hopes that this is merely temporary, and we can reach more happy days soon.
Again this is a type of social and cultural history that is usually not what I read, so this also was very difficult for me to maintain consistent interest. There are a myriad of cultural figures and authors, and many individuals whose anecdotes are constantly cited. We learn for instance about the author's maid, and her children.
This makes for a very human panoply, but one this is not exactly very exciting. I found the earliest chapters on the Spanish explorations and the contest between Mexico and the United States the most interesting, but the second half of the book I found comparatively dull.
But it does provide an enormously necessary corrective to the idea of the Anglo-Saxon genesis of the United States, and Fernandez-Armesto is full of stray observations and asides that really get the wheels spinning.
One of the most interesting arguments he makes is that the Spanish-American Wars of Independence, because they were fought in the time of Napoleon and the advent of the nation in arms, were immensely more destructive than the American Revolution, which was by comparison ad much more limited and restrained conflict.
He delves into the vicissitudes of immigration, noting that Americans sometimes desire it and sometimes abhor it, going through something like cycles commensurate with its boom and bust. In times of economic recession Americans are opposed, and in times of economic prosperity they are in favor. In this way the pendulum can act as a sort of barometer for the state of the economy.
We learn of filibusters and Mexican guerrillas and banditos. Not just Poncho Villa, but men like Cortina and Carbajal who were active in Texas. We learn of innumerable personal stories about Cubans, Dominicans, South Americans, not just Mexicans.
Another interesting insight Fernandez-Armesto provides is the idea that the masked avenger, a hero that is a staple in American culture, was perhaps inspired by Latin fictional characters like Zorro, who were originally conceived of as opponents of American imperialism. It is a fun idea to contemplate.
Another fun idea is Fernandez-Armesto's seemingly bizarre defense of Mormonism. It's hard to see them as anything other than crackpots, or to take any claims of Young or Smith with any seriousness, but the author makes the case that the Mormons are uniquely American, are historically important, and were pioneers in Western settlement. One is reluctant to concede this, but it is not easily dismissed.
Interestingly Fernandez-Armesto is not sanguine about the long-term survival of Spanish as a second language in the US, despite the enormous numbers of native speakers. I had missed my chance of being taught the language as a child, and it causes me sadness when I think about it. I would strongly advocate for a multi-lingual society, and would find the gradual erosion of Spanish to be a depressing development.
It is difficult to try to encapsulate the entire sentiment and passion in this book, one has to read it oneself. It is a shame to note that Fernandez-Armesto ends on a hopeful note, but we see know that his optimism was misplaced.
The American reaction against Latin American immigration has been intense and fierce, and we are seeing once again the US Government deporting immigrants in manners similar to earlier episodes recorded in this book. One hopes that this is merely temporary, and we can reach more happy days soon.
October 15, 2021
In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, I read OUR AMERICA A Hispanic History of the United States by historian Felipe Fernández-Armesto. This nonfiction tome looks at the history of the United States from a different perspective, instead of looking at the U.S. as an offshoot of England moving East to West across the country, we look at how South, Central, and parts of North America were first colonized by Spain. If the United States were a tapestry, OUR AMERICA, follows the threads that run South to North, telling the story of how the United States absorbed parts of Latin America through land purchases and war, first with Mexico and later with Spain.
“This absorbing narrative begins with the explorers and conquistadores who planted Spain’s first colonies in Puerto Rico, Florida, and the Southwest. Missionaries and rancheros carry Spain’s expansive impulse into the late eighteenth century, settling California, mapping the American interior to the Rockies, and charting the Pacific coast.”
Growing up in California, looking at history from this perspective is not alien to me. As children in the public school system, we learn California history, and much of our history predates U.S. History. If you live in parts of the South, Southwest, Rocky Mountain region, and the West Coast, our Spanish past is not only an indelible part of our culture and history, but is reflected in our populations, town names and architecture. The county I grew up in, Sonoma County, was once the demarcation point between Spanish and Russian colonies and missionaries. Russian fur trappers who had a long and relatively peaceful relationship with the native Pomo, Kashaya, and Miwok tribes founded Fort Ross. Towns like Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa were named for the missions that once colonized these lands in attempts to convert Indigenous populations to Catholicism.
Historian Fernández-Armesto takes us through the Spanish history of territories that were once colonized by Spain, eventually becoming territories of the United States. The section titles: Original Sins, The Empire of Eden, and Paradise Regained? are as mythic are The American Dream and Manifest Destiny. The chapter titles are equally evocative and mythic. I think the chapters themselves could have benefited from a bit more structure, possibly subsections to break up the dense text. But Fernández-Armesto writing is excellent and the points he makes about the constant struggle between pluralism and individualism as warring facets of American culture and identity are both poignant and persuasive.
If you are a history buff and enjoy reading books that look at our history from an alternative perspective, you should absolutely grab a copy of Felipe Fernández-Armesto’s OUR AMERICA A Hispanic History of the United States. When we are children and teenagers, we often learn a simplified, sanitized version of history that celebrates the victors and silences those who were trampled upon. While reading history books that don’t turn a blind eye to the suffering our government has imposed upon marginalized communities can be painful, I believe the only way we can move forward as a people is by taking ownership of our problematic past. Books such as OUR AMERICA can help us create a more clear and inclusive portrait of our origins as a nation.
“This absorbing narrative begins with the explorers and conquistadores who planted Spain’s first colonies in Puerto Rico, Florida, and the Southwest. Missionaries and rancheros carry Spain’s expansive impulse into the late eighteenth century, settling California, mapping the American interior to the Rockies, and charting the Pacific coast.”
Growing up in California, looking at history from this perspective is not alien to me. As children in the public school system, we learn California history, and much of our history predates U.S. History. If you live in parts of the South, Southwest, Rocky Mountain region, and the West Coast, our Spanish past is not only an indelible part of our culture and history, but is reflected in our populations, town names and architecture. The county I grew up in, Sonoma County, was once the demarcation point between Spanish and Russian colonies and missionaries. Russian fur trappers who had a long and relatively peaceful relationship with the native Pomo, Kashaya, and Miwok tribes founded Fort Ross. Towns like Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa were named for the missions that once colonized these lands in attempts to convert Indigenous populations to Catholicism.
Historian Fernández-Armesto takes us through the Spanish history of territories that were once colonized by Spain, eventually becoming territories of the United States. The section titles: Original Sins, The Empire of Eden, and Paradise Regained? are as mythic are The American Dream and Manifest Destiny. The chapter titles are equally evocative and mythic. I think the chapters themselves could have benefited from a bit more structure, possibly subsections to break up the dense text. But Fernández-Armesto writing is excellent and the points he makes about the constant struggle between pluralism and individualism as warring facets of American culture and identity are both poignant and persuasive.
If you are a history buff and enjoy reading books that look at our history from an alternative perspective, you should absolutely grab a copy of Felipe Fernández-Armesto’s OUR AMERICA A Hispanic History of the United States. When we are children and teenagers, we often learn a simplified, sanitized version of history that celebrates the victors and silences those who were trampled upon. While reading history books that don’t turn a blind eye to the suffering our government has imposed upon marginalized communities can be painful, I believe the only way we can move forward as a people is by taking ownership of our problematic past. Books such as OUR AMERICA can help us create a more clear and inclusive portrait of our origins as a nation.
September 28, 2024
“All the census-takers in the world could not make me believe that I was a foreigner in a land that my ancestors found.”
-Pedro Vallejo, 1893
Came across this by random happenstance, but that’s okay! It’s Hispanic Heritage Month!
I was very pleased with Fernandez-Armesto’s work here! His history of the US stretches from the settlement of Puerto Rico by Spain up until modern day. I think there were a few points where he definitely could have gone into more detail–experimentation on Puerto Ricans is mentioned, though not discussed at length–overall it’s very good! I like that it points out that Hispanic history tends to be shoved under the rug in popular history of the US, when, uh… Spain got to the continent before the English did.
Also, of course, there were people living here already, and the book acknowledges that.
It’s a fantastic resource to get started on the topic, with tons of references, quotes, and citations. I saw some reviews that said something like, “UGH, I get it, you think Hispanic history was overwritten by an Anglocentric narrative, move on!” And, uh… yeah. That’s the point of the book: to help highlight the history of a diverse set of ethnic groups that have long been shoved under a singular umbrella, dismissed, and ignored, even in today’s society.
[I also saw one review that claimed that the author “repeated all the worst parts of Black Legend unironically”, or something like that. No. No it does not. If anything, Fernandez-Armesto is a bit lighter than I would be on the topic. He points out the Salamanca School and theological/philosophical debates and hand-wringing and reflection on the treatment of indigenous, whereas the English had John Locke say it was all cool to take their stuff, they weren’t using it right anyway. Screw that guy.]
The author tends to be remarkably sympathetic to an awful lot of people, outside of outright racists (and as you can imagine in a book about US history, there’s a ton of racists!). And Joseph Smith, weirdly–though he doesn’t have a problem with modern Mormons and is alarmed by how their religion is treated sometimes. Fernandez-Armesto also connects anti-Hispanic prejudice with the historical anti-Catholic prejudice that is baked into a lot of US society, which is good! It’s a relief after some bad takes on religion I’ve seen lately (hello, Dan Flores!).
If there is one really big downside to the book, it’s the timeliness of it. This book was published in 2014, and a lot of the political commentary is based off of the then-latest Presidential election, in 2012. Fernandez-Armesto makes comments about how the Republican Party somehow switched to nativist, anti-immigrant, and notably anti-Hispanic sentiment in that election, with talk of a Border Wall. Towards the end he makes a comment like, “But thankfully, it cost them that election, so there’s NO WAY they’ll go back to the stupid nativist rhetoric! They will surely have learned the value of the Hispanic vote and not bring up that nonsense again!”
[deep breath]
Yeah…
It’s still very good though, and you should check it out.
-Pedro Vallejo, 1893
Came across this by random happenstance, but that’s okay! It’s Hispanic Heritage Month!
I was very pleased with Fernandez-Armesto’s work here! His history of the US stretches from the settlement of Puerto Rico by Spain up until modern day. I think there were a few points where he definitely could have gone into more detail–experimentation on Puerto Ricans is mentioned, though not discussed at length–overall it’s very good! I like that it points out that Hispanic history tends to be shoved under the rug in popular history of the US, when, uh… Spain got to the continent before the English did.
Also, of course, there were people living here already, and the book acknowledges that.
It’s a fantastic resource to get started on the topic, with tons of references, quotes, and citations. I saw some reviews that said something like, “UGH, I get it, you think Hispanic history was overwritten by an Anglocentric narrative, move on!” And, uh… yeah. That’s the point of the book: to help highlight the history of a diverse set of ethnic groups that have long been shoved under a singular umbrella, dismissed, and ignored, even in today’s society.
[I also saw one review that claimed that the author “repeated all the worst parts of Black Legend unironically”, or something like that. No. No it does not. If anything, Fernandez-Armesto is a bit lighter than I would be on the topic. He points out the Salamanca School and theological/philosophical debates and hand-wringing and reflection on the treatment of indigenous, whereas the English had John Locke say it was all cool to take their stuff, they weren’t using it right anyway. Screw that guy.]
The author tends to be remarkably sympathetic to an awful lot of people, outside of outright racists (and as you can imagine in a book about US history, there’s a ton of racists!). And Joseph Smith, weirdly–though he doesn’t have a problem with modern Mormons and is alarmed by how their religion is treated sometimes. Fernandez-Armesto also connects anti-Hispanic prejudice with the historical anti-Catholic prejudice that is baked into a lot of US society, which is good! It’s a relief after some bad takes on religion I’ve seen lately (hello, Dan Flores!).
If there is one really big downside to the book, it’s the timeliness of it. This book was published in 2014, and a lot of the political commentary is based off of the then-latest Presidential election, in 2012. Fernandez-Armesto makes comments about how the Republican Party somehow switched to nativist, anti-immigrant, and notably anti-Hispanic sentiment in that election, with talk of a Border Wall. Towards the end he makes a comment like, “But thankfully, it cost them that election, so there’s NO WAY they’ll go back to the stupid nativist rhetoric! They will surely have learned the value of the Hispanic vote and not bring up that nonsense again!”
[deep breath]
Yeah…
It’s still very good though, and you should check it out.
June 6, 2022
Armesto use is Villagrá’s eyewitness account of the mostly peaceful settlement of New Mexico by treaty agreement, as a backdrop for his racist propaganda. He avoids the positive effects to the pueblos, of cooperating with the Spanish form of government.
Armesto embodies the Black Legend, La Leyenda Negra, a pervasive anti-Spanish propaganda painting our Spanish ancestors as cruel and destructive invaders. An example of this is when he first shows the wealth of the settlers; bringing suits of silk, satin, and blue Italian velvet, then turns right around and on the next page,
[He (Villagrá) makes Oñate address his men, who were for the most part the dregs and scum of the monarchy, desperadoes bound for New Mexico as refugees from their own previous failures, as "Valiant noble men, cavaliers of Christ!"15]
Armesto deceptively inserted his propaganda, [who were… desperadoes bound for New Mexico] in front of that of Villagrá, [Valiant noble men, cavaliers of Christ!"15]. The source of this hate speech might be linked to the referenced footnote in the reader’s mind, and not to Armesto’s unfounded prejudice.
This book is on CRT reading lists in New Mexico leading to a hatred of Juan De Oñate and the Spanish people, and to Spanish students falsely thinking their ancestors were cruel to the Indians.
Armesto embodies the Black Legend, La Leyenda Negra, a pervasive anti-Spanish propaganda painting our Spanish ancestors as cruel and destructive invaders. An example of this is when he first shows the wealth of the settlers; bringing suits of silk, satin, and blue Italian velvet, then turns right around and on the next page,
[He (Villagrá) makes Oñate address his men, who were for the most part the dregs and scum of the monarchy, desperadoes bound for New Mexico as refugees from their own previous failures, as "Valiant noble men, cavaliers of Christ!"15]
Armesto deceptively inserted his propaganda, [who were… desperadoes bound for New Mexico] in front of that of Villagrá, [Valiant noble men, cavaliers of Christ!"15]. The source of this hate speech might be linked to the referenced footnote in the reader’s mind, and not to Armesto’s unfounded prejudice.
This book is on CRT reading lists in New Mexico leading to a hatred of Juan De Oñate and the Spanish people, and to Spanish students falsely thinking their ancestors were cruel to the Indians.
April 14, 2020
There were some really interesting sections of this book including the cultural anthropology of First Nations responses to the arrival of Europeans in the Americas and popular attitudes toward the Spanish language in the modern United States. The author's approach was also innovative, presenting the history of the United States from South to North rather than East to West. The narrative meandered from the central ideas to extended digressions about side topics, however, and the tone sometimes changed abruptly from academic study to personal essay. Historical events and their later cultural significance are discussed at the same time, which confuses the chronology at times. An informative but uneven read.
March 2, 2021
To my knowledge, one of the few books that aims to cover the full spectrum of the Hispanic history of the United States, from the first Spanish settlements in Puerto Rico to the 2012 presidential elections. The book is written by a British-Spanish historian residing in the US, which probably helps to provide a slightly different lens vs if this were written by an American. I learned a lot about early Spanish settlements in what is now Southern and Southwestern US, and abuses suffered by the Spanish-speaking inhabitants after the US-Mexican war of 1846-48. The later chapters on the recent Hispanic immigration was somewhat weaker, maybe at times relying too much on anecdotes instead of hard data that must exist.
December 4, 2025
Hey! Your story was such a fantastic read, the atmosphere and character work were spot on. I could picture the scenes unfolding panel by panel.
I’m a professional artist and I work on comics, manga and webtoons. Honestly, you story is practically begging to be drawn and I’d love to do it in whichever format you'd prefer. No pressure though if you're not into the idea, but I just had to put it out there.
Although, if you are interested, you can reach out to me on Discord (eve_verse). Looking forward to discuss it more, cheers!
Regards,
Evelyn
I’m a professional artist and I work on comics, manga and webtoons. Honestly, you story is practically begging to be drawn and I’d love to do it in whichever format you'd prefer. No pressure though if you're not into the idea, but I just had to put it out there.
Although, if you are interested, you can reach out to me on Discord (eve_verse). Looking forward to discuss it more, cheers!
Regards,
Evelyn
October 16, 2022
4.5
I loved this book, especially for the new perspective I gained on US history and the ways that the author purports that US society would benefit from a culturally pluralistic society. The way he integrated myths and emphasized the literature of the different historical periods was a fascinating and unique lens with which to look at the Hispanic history of the US (as well as its connection with Anglo history in this country). I thoroughly enjoyed it!
I loved this book, especially for the new perspective I gained on US history and the ways that the author purports that US society would benefit from a culturally pluralistic society. The way he integrated myths and emphasized the literature of the different historical periods was a fascinating and unique lens with which to look at the Hispanic history of the US (as well as its connection with Anglo history in this country). I thoroughly enjoyed it!
April 10, 2021
This is an interesting, well-documented history looking at the role of Hispanics in US history and the influx of Latin and Hispanic immigrants in the last several decades. The book, published in 2014, makes a strong case for the US to fix its immigration laws and make it easier for people to legally enter our country, which is aging and losing influence in world affairs.
January 14, 2020
Read this for class. Very interesting!
February 21, 2021
The information is valid but presented in such a dry format I struggled to get through it at all.
October 13, 2021
Great content, but delivered very dryly.
Read
October 12, 2022Notre Dame history prof. dense read. interesting and confirms my own impressions.
January 22, 2023
Needed it for a class. Very insightful
April 30, 2025
Not bad for a history textbook.
October 5, 2014
The United States, as pretty much every other country, has a history built upon myths. Fernandez-Armesto has done a magnificent job of dispelling some of those myths some of which are of international relevance. The best example is dispelling Weber's idea of the "protestant work ethic" and American exceptionalism, but it doesn't stop there, the book goes deeply into the abuses of the United States after the war with Mexico in driving previous land owners away to give the land to American owners.
Given the rise in world integration and economical cooperation, specially within NAFTA, and the new an increased openness of Mexico and Latin America, the book is highly relevant for anyone who wishes to understand the US as a part of a larger continent. Fernandez-Armesto also delves into the differences in development based on the conditions faced by the different countries, pretty much in hand with observations extracted from his book "Civilizations".
Given that the book doesn't look to do a full history of the US, a relatively good knowledge of US history is helpful to understand the book. But it is also a review of how US history is told, starting not with the arrival of the mayflower, but with the arrival of Spaniards in Puerto Rico. It also reviews the causes and strategies of the loss of territory from Mexico, and the effects of the transition to the US.
Be warned though, this is a partial history, it is a complementary view not to be read as the only perspective possible on American history. But it is one of increasing relevance (if only because of the current demographic shift), not only for the US, but also to understand how or world has shifted and moved, and to dispel some of the prejudices of the Western first world economies about how they achieved their status.
In my opinion, more books in a similar vein should be written and read. A countries history cannot be see only from the perspective of one country, but greatly depends on its neighbors and commercial partners.
Given the rise in world integration and economical cooperation, specially within NAFTA, and the new an increased openness of Mexico and Latin America, the book is highly relevant for anyone who wishes to understand the US as a part of a larger continent. Fernandez-Armesto also delves into the differences in development based on the conditions faced by the different countries, pretty much in hand with observations extracted from his book "Civilizations".
Given that the book doesn't look to do a full history of the US, a relatively good knowledge of US history is helpful to understand the book. But it is also a review of how US history is told, starting not with the arrival of the mayflower, but with the arrival of Spaniards in Puerto Rico. It also reviews the causes and strategies of the loss of territory from Mexico, and the effects of the transition to the US.
Be warned though, this is a partial history, it is a complementary view not to be read as the only perspective possible on American history. But it is one of increasing relevance (if only because of the current demographic shift), not only for the US, but also to understand how or world has shifted and moved, and to dispel some of the prejudices of the Western first world economies about how they achieved their status.
In my opinion, more books in a similar vein should be written and read. A countries history cannot be see only from the perspective of one country, but greatly depends on its neighbors and commercial partners.
November 15, 2014
The author seems to have been writing this book without any particular kind of plan in place. The tone goes back and forth between academic and chatty. There are footnotes, so that is encouraging. But sections of useful information were broken up by pages of vague philosophizing. The first third of the book covers the exploration of America by Spanish conquistadores, the establishment of colonies, and the gradual loss of these colonies to the United States. A lot of this section is also found in average high school US History textbooks, but it did include interesting commentary on the relationship between the Spanish and Mexican governments with the United States, France, and various Native American tribes. I skimmed a large section in the middle because it just told the same story of US conquest of the West that I was already familiar with: Mormons, railroads, etc. This was followed by a not very chronological section about the gradual increase of Mexican immigration to the US and the segregation and discrimination that Mexicans experienced. Every once in a while a random fact about Mexican-American life today would be thrown in. Finally in the last section, covering roughly from the 1960s to the present day, all attempts at chronology are abandoned. There are a few pages on three major non-Mexican ethnic groups (Cuban, Puerto Rican, Dominican Republican). Then a few pages on immigration issues in general.
The organizational issues made the book difficult to follow, and while I can understand the emphasis on Mexico in the first half of the book, I wish the second half included more information about other Hispanic groups. While each culture is very different, Hispanics are viewed in the United States and a cohesive group of people, and therefore it makes sense to focus on policies of the US government and attitudes of the American public through each presidential administration in turn. By bouncing around in time the reader is left with only a general impression that Hispanic people have been ignored and mistreated.
The organizational issues made the book difficult to follow, and while I can understand the emphasis on Mexico in the first half of the book, I wish the second half included more information about other Hispanic groups. While each culture is very different, Hispanics are viewed in the United States and a cohesive group of people, and therefore it makes sense to focus on policies of the US government and attitudes of the American public through each presidential administration in turn. By bouncing around in time the reader is left with only a general impression that Hispanic people have been ignored and mistreated.
July 28, 2015
More high quality books like this on the Hispanic history of the United States need to be written. Very little is known by the general public (and even by Hispanics) about the vast and important Hispanic history in this country. One warning though is that if you are Hispanic, you will need many breaks from the book. The book is great. It's interesting and well written and it is one of the few books about the history of the US that does not follow the myths created by Anglos about this country starting from the east and spreading out to the west and having only WASP values. However, discrimination and hate towards Hispanics in the US is and has always been so terrible and terrifying that if you are Hispanic you'll want to put the book down some times and take a break before continuing. That does not mean you should stop reading. It is a great book and it should be mandatory for all classes in the history of the U.S.
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