The Parallels Between America's Decline and the Fall of the Spanish Empire
By
ByLogan McMillen
Summary
This article draws a historical parallel between the decline of the Spanish Empire and the current trajectory of the United States as it approaches its 250th anniversary. It argues that America has shifted from a productive, industrial economy to one that extracts rents and enriches a bloated elite, while sacrificing its interior regions and embracing exclusionary nationalism. The piece uses Spain's imperial decline as a cautionary mirror, suggesting the US is repeating similar patterns of decadence, internal exploitation, and overreach that led to Spain's fall from global dominance.
Source
bskyThe Parallels Between America's Decline and the Fall of the Spanish Empirejacobin.comKey quotes
· 3 pulledAn often forgotten historical truth about the American Revolution is the crucial role that Spain played in providing financing, logistical support, and supplies.
By 1779, Spain itself had declared war on England, launching naval campaigns up the Mississippi.
America has begun to resemble the decadent Spanish Empire it replaced: producing nothing while collecting rents, sacrificing its interior to enrich a bloated elite, and embracing exclusionary nationalism to exploit its underclass.
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