Interview with José Manuel Guerrero Acosta (Unveiling Memories')

José Manuel Guerrero Acosta is a historian, a member of the Academy of Military Sciences and Arts and a specialist in military history. He holds a diploma in Advanced Studies in Contemporary History from Spain’s National University of Distance Education (UNED) and in the Management and Administration of Military Museums from the Defence Ministry. He has built an extensive career in research, public outreach and museum studies. He is the author of more than 40 articles and a dozen books and has also worked as a historical adviser and exhibition curator in Spain and the US.

Guerrero Acosta has been collaborating with Iberdrola since 2015 on initiatives focusing on the contribution of Spain and the Hispanic world to US independence. Having taken part in the exhibitions Bernardo de Gálvez and Spain's presence in Mexico and the United States (2015), 'Memory Regained' (Bilbao, 2017) and 'Recovered Memories' (New Orleans and Washington, 2018), he is leading the 'Unveiling Memories' project, which expands on this work through publications, digital resources and initiatives aimed at recovering and disseminating this shared history.

Historical context: key milestones in Spain's contribution to US independence

1775: First supplies from Spain
 Even before declaring their independence, the American revolutionaries received weapons and other supplies from Spain, including those arranged by the Bilbao merchant Diego de Gardoqui.

1776: Covert financial and military support
Spain and France began secretly providing money, weapons, gunpowder and other resources to the revolutionaries.

1777: Saratoga turns the tide of the war
The American victory at Saratoga (New York State) bolstered the cause of independence and encouraged France to enter the war.

1779: Spain officially joins the conflict
 With the signing of the Treaty of Aranjuez, Spain declared war on Great Britain and opened a new front in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean.

1781: Yorktown and the role of Spanish financial support
The campaigns of Bernardo de Gálvez – governor of Spanish Louisiana and a hero of the American War of Independence – weakened British positions in the south, specifically in Louisiana and Florida, while Spanish financial support contributed to the victory at Yorktown.

2015 to the present: Recovering and disseminating history
Iberdrola is promoting cultural projects to recover and disseminate the Spanish contribution to US independence, from 'Memory Regained' and 'Recovered Memories' to 'Unveiling Memories'.

A story that deserves to be rediscovered

The contribution of Spain and the Hispanic world to the independence of the United States of America is a little-known fact on both sides of the Atlantic. Why do you think this has been forgotten?

There are a number of explanations. One is that a large part of the financial and material aid was in secret, or took place through diverse channels and intermediaries, making it impossible to quantify precisely. Another is that Spain became an adversary in the territorial expansion of the new nation. And a further one is that Spain did not make a great effort to raise its head during the 19^th Century, due to its own domestic problems. Moreover, the contribution of the Hispanic world was not valued by Anglo-Saxon historians.

Why is it important to defend the role of Spain in this historic event?

I believe that millions of Hispanic people living today in the US are entitled to recognition of the fact that the Hispanic world and its forebears, which made up part of the Spanish crown territories in America, were present in a significant way at the birth of their country.

Spain's support for American independence

How did the Spanish Crown help the inhabitants of the Thirteen British Colonies to gain their independence?

The first foreign rifles that they obtained to fight against the British troops arrived in Massachusetts in 1775 from Bilbao. Thereafter, they continued to receive weapons, gunpowder, sundry supplies, uniforms and money throughout the entire war. Apart from this, Spain and France fought against England on sea and land in Europe and the Atlantic. Specifically, Spain sent the biggest expedition ever undertaken, with over 12,000 soldiers and more than 80 ships to fight in Florida, Louisiana and the Caribbean.

In your opinion, would the rebel victory have been possible without this help?

The Founding Fathers themselves declared that triumph would never have been possible without foreign help. Alexander Hamilton, for example, said: "If we are [to be] saved, France and Spain must save us".

Spain's legacy in the US

Are there any traces left in the US of Spain's involvement and that of the Hispanic world?

Naturally, some traces remain, such as abundant documents in the Congress Library, and other more recent ones, like sculptures and commemorative sites. But in general they are not very visible or well-known to the general public. We are working to make this presence greater in museums and historical sites in the US, and more permanent, by installing plaques, sculptures and content regarding the aid that was given.

Bernardo de Gálvez, the central figure in this recovered history

In 2014, the US congress granted honorary citizenship for the first time to a Spaniard: the North American independence hero Bernardo de Gálvez. Who was Gálvez? What feats made him worthy of this recognition?

Gálvez was a charismatic leader, a very useful man, both for peace and for war. We were lucky to have him in the right place at the right time, as governor of Spanish Louisiana in 1776, and he insisted on complying with the orders of the king in driving the British out of the Gulf of Mexico. He helped with rebel supplies from New Orleans and he defeated the British after three long years of campaigns, alleviating the situation for Washington's army in the north.

Despite the prestige of such a nomination, achieved by only seven people in the world, Bernardo de Gálvez remains relatively unknown, even in Spain. How can we restore his standing, not just internationally, but also in his own native country?

Many private individuals and public institutions have spent years working for him to be better known, through books, monuments, social networks and exhibitions, such as Iberdrola's Recovered Memories project which began in 2015 with an exhibition opened by His Majesty King Felipe.

A long-term project to turn memory into a legacy

What is the purpose of the book 'Unveiling Memories'? What can we find in it?

We have attempted to summarise clearly and concisely all that Spain and the Hispanic people did to help towards US independence. Furthermore, the book is complemented by a website External link, opens in new window.  where the various related projects and activities will be posted. The aim is for it to serve as a reference for understanding and raising awareness of these events among the public on both sides of the Atlantic. Alongside the key events, the book features biographies of the key figures and details of the places where one can find traces of Spain's influence in this shared history of Hispanics and the US.

ou have been collaborating with Iberdrola since 2015 on various exhibitions and other initiatives concerning the role of Spain and Hispanics in US independence. In what way do you think these two initiatives have helped to revive this shared memory between the Hispanic world and the US? What achievements have been made?

Although we have only been working on this project for five years, it is clear that interest in and awareness of Spain's role in the country's independence have grown significantly in both Spain and the US, across many cultural spheres and on social media. Before 2015, it was barely discussed outside very small circles. I sincerely believe that the efforts of many people and institutions are bearing fruit, despite how difficult it is to uncover the memories of a history that was almost forgotten for many years.

How do you rate the support provided by the Iberdrola Group for the promotion of history and culture in general?

Without the support of companies such as Iberdrola and their social and cultural commitment, it would be very difficult to achieve such ambitious objectives particularly in the medium term. This support is essential to ensure that the image of Spain and all things Hispanic is represented as it should be given the importance it held for the birth of the USA. At the same time, these initiatives benefit the institutional image of Spanish companies abroad.