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Amerikaens Free State: Difference between revisions
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== History ==
=== Pre-Spanish rule and the Establishment of the Voortrekker Republics (1799-1830) ===
[[File:VoortrekkerRepublics.jpg|alt=|left|thumb|279x279px|The Boer Republics, later annexed by New Spain throughout the 1830s. Full res map [https://www.deviantart.com/wannabeecartographie/art/RTL-Voortrekker-Trails-of-Northwestern-America-857049444 here].]]Although Spain had already claimed this region for New Spain by the late 1700s, it was settled in the early 1800s by independent Dutch colonists originating from New Netherland and the Dutch Tussenland colony.
Throughout 1800-1830, the various Boer settlements that dotted the west coast region had started to form their independent governments and began managing their own internal affairs. By 1835, five Voortrekker republics had formed, namely: Voorlandt (founded 1803, the first Boer republic), Kimoeenim Republic (founded 1812, named after the river where it sat on), Westerzee Republic (founded 1821). Goudlandt (broke off from the Westerzee Republic in 1845 after gold had been discovered), and New Orange (1847, the least populated of the five settlements).
New Spain authorities had multiple attempts in the 1820s to discourage the Dutch freebooters from settling there, including organized raids carried out by the natives. However, these were unsuccessful as the Voortrekkers managed to repel them each time.
From 1830 to 1840, New Spain decided to take more militaristic actions and began exercising their claims to the area militarily. New Spain invaded the Boer Republics one-by-one. The period was known as the Boer annexation period. The Boer Republics had no unified government or standing army, and they were easily conquered by the New Spain army. The fledgling Kingdom of the Netherlands did not want to get in a military conflict with Spain and took no action.
The Treaty of Santa Maria was signed in 1840. The 5 Republics became autonomous provinces in New Spain (and later Mexico). Over the next decades, the Dutch boers experienced rapid Catholicization and Hispanicization, and creating a new dialect of the [[Amerikaens]] language known as "Boer Amerikaens", which heavily borrows vocabulary from the Spanish language. Code-switching is common, especially within the younger generation in the present-day. In writing, the spelling of most words adopted from Spanish is retained, with exceptions for older words such as ''Kommestas (How are you;'' from Spanish ''<nowiki/>'cómo'' ''estás').''
====The Gold Rush of 1846, and the Goudlandt Rebellion====
Gold was discovered in the southern region of the Westerzee Republic in 1845. This attracted many settlers in the area and made the small settlement of Meeuwÿck grow to a large town (the town was renamed to Goudhaven, translating to "Gold Port" in the Amerikaans dialect, known in Spanish as Puerto de Oro).
However, this rush had also attracted the Royal Dutch Tussenland Company's attention, which wished to exploit the gold-rich area. After the company's diplomatic attempts to partake in the gold rush were denied by the conservative ''Westerzee Republic'', the company resorted to other dirty means.
They incited and supported a capitalist rebellion in Goudlandt, resulting in the secession of the Republic of Goudlandt from the Westerzee Republic (although still under the suzerainty of New Spain) in 1846. This new republic had allowed merchants working for the Dutch Tussenland company to set up shop in Goudlandt, bringing in a profit. This move, however, had upset the Spanish.
====Gold-smuggling, and 2nd Dutch-Spanish War (1850-1855)====
[[File:1850 New Spain Gains.png|alt=|left|thumb|240x240px|Territorial Gains from the Dutch after the 2nd Dutch-Spanish War.]]It became somewhat of an open secret that the Dutch had been siphoning the gold and profit from Goudlandt and New Spain. The trail that the Dutch merchants and miners working for the Dutch Tussenland company had used became known as the Smockelaer's Trail (meaning ''Smuggler's Trail'' in the Amerikaans dialect). This trail had also resulted in the founding of several settlements along its path. The gold smuggling business of the Dutch Tussenland company would eventually be one of the primary reasons for the [https://www.reddit.com/r/RosesTulipsAndLiberty/comments/mecng5/rtl_the_2nd_dutch_spanish_war_18501855/ Second Dutch-Spanish War]. During the war, New Spain occupied key forts in the Dutch unincorporated territories of Acansa (Dutch: Opdamslandt) and Misuri (Dutch: Mizoerie). In the resulting treaty, these regions were officially ceded to New Spain as three new provinces: Misuri del Norte, Misuri del Sur, and Acansa.
=== Period Under New Spain (1830-1875) and the Mexican Empire (1875-1903) ===
The Boers enjoyed partial self-rule during its time under New Spain. It was throughout these periods that the Dutch Boer Culture became heavily influenced by Hispanic elements. Under New Spain, Protestantism was not outlawed. However, to promote Catholicism, Spain built schools in the Amerikaner towns ran by Catholic missionaries to help spread the religion. In 1875, the Boer Regions fell under the fledgling Mexican Empire. It was during this time that the Boers experienced religious persecution (specifically during the periods between 1880 and 1890, until these restrictions were relaxed due to unrest). Eventually, private worship was allowed but the Catholic Church had been placed in special status under Mexican rule. More efforts were made by the Mexican empire to consolidate her power, such as removing certain guarantees and freedoms from the ''Voors.''
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