Question

Identify the leading factors that contributed to the disintegration of the Spanish Empire.

Answer 1

The leading factors that contributed to the disintegration of the Spanish Empire were colonial grievances, economic exploitation, and prolonged conflicts and internal fragility.

Step-by-step explanation:

1. Colonial grievances: The disruption of Spanish sovereignty and the reinstatement of pre-Napoleonic policies sparked immediate reactions in the colonies, leading to a search for independence.
2. Economic exploitation: Spanish colonizers aimed to establish economies that exported wealth to Spain, depleting local environments and resources. This led to violence against Indigenous peoples who resisted these economic conditions.
3. Prolonged conflicts and internal fragility: Spain experienced civil wars, factional politics, and internal instabilities. Losses of territories and nationalist revolts also contributed to the disintegration of the empire.