Policy Paper nº 14 / October 2019 ISSN 2444-2933 Spanish legacy in the symbols of the United States BY Juan Ignacio Güenechea With the support of: This activity has received a subsidy from the Secretaría General de Política de Defensa del Ministerio de Defensa. Spanish legacy in the symbols of the United States n 1513, Ponce de León, a native of Those are just some examples of the important Valladolid, arrived in Florida and started a presence that Spain has had in the United States since its period of more than 300 years of Spanish inception. This legacy, little known to the general public, presence in what is now the United States. is still present in the American historical Symbols, thus, Three Icenturies later, the sale of Florida took place; in bringing to mind the Spanish presence in the country this way, Spain put an end to more than three centuries of from its inception. history in a country that, back then, was taking the very first steps as a nation. The purpose of this report is to highlight and explain how to understand the deep Hispanic heritage in U.S. symbology. In the coats of arms and the flags of the states Throughout this history of more than 300 years, and the most important cities in the country we discover Spanish milestones in that land were numerous the Spanish trace that remains with the course of the years and significant. The first cities in the territory were and reminds us of the close ties that both countries established, such as the outstanding city of Saint have in common. Augustine, Florida, which is today the oldest city in the United States. The 1540 expedition of Vázquez de Coronado discovered the Grand Canyon, and Juan de Oñate established New Mexico in 1598. The Sacred Expedition started in 1769 the Spanish settlement in SPANISH LEGACY IN THE Alta California that reached the coastline of Canada and STATE SYMBOLS Alaska. Bernardo de Gálvez wrote one of the most well- known chapters of Spanish history in the country playing Currently, out of the 50 states that compose the country, an essential role in the American Revolutionary War. six refer to Spain in their flags. In particular, we can find it in: Alabama, Arizona, Montana, New Mexico, Florida and Arkansas. Additionally, seals and coats of arms are symbols of each state that are used in official documents, represented in state offices and other uses. In many of them, we can also findreference to the Spanish presence in some territories of the country. In this section we will analyze the states of which their symbols are a reference of the Spanish legacy in their flags, seals and coats of arms. The aim of this report is to explain how the deep Hispanic legacy can be seen in the American symbols, bringing us to mind the close relation that both countries have. THE HISPANIC COUNCIL 4 www.hispaniccouncil.org Spanish legacy in the symbols of the United States ALABAMA Alabama Flag Alabama Coat of Arms The current Alabama flag was approved on the 16th The aforementioned shows that, Alabama, even of February of 1895. On this occasion, citizens of the though it was not a state itself, had an important state chose that the insignia shall be as follows: “a St Spanish influence from the beginning of the Andrew crimson cross on a white background”. Spanish presence in the United States that today can be reflected in its flag. The reason for making this decision was the important Spanish presence in the territory that This state also makes references to the Spanish today is the State of Alabama and that the Cross of heritage in its coat for arms. There are symbols of Burgundy was being used as a national pavilion the five countries that have had sovereignty over at that time. After the marriage of Joanna of Castile, Alabama. Spain, France, Great Britain, the Confederacy daughter of the Catholic Monarchs, and Felipe “the and the United States of America. And in turn, it is Handsome”, the archduke of Austria, was celebrated, supported on both sides by bald eagles that represent there was a common element that was taken for the courage. The crest is a model of the boat, the Baldine, Spanish flags at that time: the Cross of Burgundy. This on which Iberville and Bienville sailed from France to symbol was a representation of the St Andrew cross, establish a colony close to the current Mobile (1699). still present in the flag of cities such as Logroño or This coat of arms is used in public institutions of Fuenterrabia, and in the Spanish Armed Forces symbols. Alabama such as the Governor’s Office and the State Security Department. Known as the “Cotton State” After the discoveries made by Juan Ponce de León Alabama recalls the founding character of the first and Alvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca all of the current Spanish that entered the territory and recognizes that southeastern region of the United States was called legacy. La Florida, including the current states of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Mississippi and Alabama. Regarding Alabama, the first expedition that entered this land was led by Hernando de Soto in 1540. Subsequently, Tristán de Luna tried to establish the first settlement in the Mobile Bay, but the attempt failed due to the destruction caused by a hurricane. THE HISPANIC COUNCIL www.hispaniccouncil.org 5 Spanish legacy in the symbols of the United States ARIZONA Arizona Flag According to official Arizona State sources, their flag to understand the Spanish legacy in the flag are its represents: “the copper star of Arizona rising from a colors: red and gold. blue field in the face of a setting sun”. Nevertheless, if we analyze the content of this symbol in more detail, Those colors were chosen to remember the presence we can also appreciate the Spanish legacy. that Spain had in the state since its inception. The Salamancan Francisco Vázquez de Coronado led the In 1910, a team of rifles from the Arizona State expedition that, between 1540 and 1542, led him to took part in a competition in Ohio and they did not discover new territories where Europeans had never set have a flag to represent them. Charles Harris quickly foot, including Arizona. This trip actually started to designed what subsequently would become the state search for the “seven cities of Cibola”, a series of dream flag. Arizona joined the Union in 1912 and the flag villages that were supposed to be full of riches. The was approved in 1917. retinue departed from Compostela, what is now Jalisco in Mexico, and crossed Arizona and New Mexico. The copper star in the middle represents the copper Finally, although they did not find what they wanted, mining industry in Arizona, and the blue bottom half the journey was not in vain, García López de Cárdenas, represents the Colorado river. As well, in the top half we a member of the expedition, discovered the Colorado can appreciate 13 bars that symbolize the 13 original Grand Canyon. colonies of the United States. These rays also refer to a setting sun, although the most important thing What is most important to understand the Spanish legacy, is the colors on the flag: red and gold, which were chosen to remember the Spanish presence in the state from its inception. THE HISPANIC COUNCIL 6 www.hispaniccouncil.org Spanish legacy in the symbols of the United States ARKANSAS Arkansas Flag The history of Arkansas has been linked to that of The Arkansas flag brings to mind the Spanish presence Spain from the beginning of the Spanish presence in with one of the stars under its name. These symbolize what is now the United States. It is estimated that the the countries that had control over the state territory and first European that traversed this land was Hernando one of them refers to Spain. de Soto, liutenant of Francisco Pizarro in Peru. His expedition, that started in 1539, was unsuccessful Arkansas joined the Union in 1836, but the official regarding the discovery of riches and the establishment flag was not accepted until the 26th of February of 1913. of settlements, but he traversed and illuminated a large Afterwards, there would be a modification, but there was portion of the North American geography, as well as already a reference to the Spanish presence in the discovering the Mississippi river. state through that star. Afterwards, before becoming a state, Arkansas was part of the Spanish Louisiana after the French cession to Spain by means of the Treaty of Paris. During the Spanish control that would last until 1803, one of the most important pages of the Spanish legacy in the United States was written: the involvement in the American Revolutionary War. The Arkansas flag brings to mind the Spanish presence with one of the stars under its name. These symbolize the countries that had control over the state territory and one of them refers to Spain. THE HISPANIC COUNCIL www.hispaniccouncil.org 7 Spanish legacy in the symbols of the United States FLORIDA Florida Flag The current design of the Florida flag was done in But doubtlessly, a historical element that brought the 1900. The inhabitants of the state ratified an amendment countries together for ever was the founding of Saint to add to the flag, red diagonal bars in the shape of Augustine by Pedro Menéndez de Avilés in 1565. This the St Andrew cross, since before, there was only the town is today the oldest and most continuously inhabited state seal on a white background.