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Hi everyone! Welcome to Historical Gossip Hour, the podcast where we dive into history

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and make it fun. Today, we're talking about Spain's role in the independence of the American

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colonies and an unexpected connection with john jay wait wait wait john jay who's that

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weren't we supposed to talk about spain and the colonies emma john jay was a k-american diplomat

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while he was indirectly involved in the latin american independence movements his actions

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influenced how spain managed its empire at the time oh come on emma it's like when you're watching

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a series and a side character suddenly becomes super important for the plot? That's John Jay.

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Exactly! Jay played a significant role in international politics during the late 18th

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century, especially in the relationships between the United States and Spain.

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Okay, let's set the stage. In the 18th century, Spain had the massive empire in Latin America,

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but by the early 19th century, Spain was weakened by the Napoleonic Wars,

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and holding on to its colonies became increasingly difficult.

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But what does the United States have to do with this?

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I thought it was just between Spain and its colonies?

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Well, the United States was willing to ensure Spain as an obstacle.

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John Jay, being super strategic, wanted to ensure Spain couldn't interfere with American expansion.

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It's like when you want the best seat in class and need to distract the annoying kid who always gets there first.

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Totally! In 1786, Jay signed the Jay-Gardocchi Treaty with Spain.

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While it seemed like he was working toward a peaceful agreement about the Mississippi River,

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Jay's long-term goal was to weaken Spain.

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Right! And while Spain was busy dealing with its European problems,

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independence ideas were already spreading in Latin America.

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Spain simply couldn't handle everything at once.

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Wait, so are you saying John Jay helped the colonies become independent?

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Not exactly Emma, but Jay's actions along with the growing influence of the United States

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put even more pressure on Spain that opened the door for the colonies to push their independence movements.

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Yeah, it's like when your parents are distracted with the dog and you sneak out with your friends.

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In other words, John Jay wasn't a hero for Latin America, but his decisions indirectly contributed to the fall of the Spanish Empire.

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So, Spain was struggling to keep its empire, and independence was inevitable.

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So, was John Jay important or not? Because I'm still confused.

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Emma, yes, he was important, but not directly. Let's just say he moved pieces on the cheeseboard that made Spain's life even harder.

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Basically, the ultimate troublemaker.

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Exactly. History isn't just about heroes and villains.

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Sometimes, people unintentionally shape the course of events.

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And there you have it. Spain, the colonies and John Jay, all connected in unexpected ways.

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Thanks for visiting Historical Gossip Hour. If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to follow us and share it.

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And if you're still confused, just ask Emma.

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See you next week and bye for now.