Spanish Society and Buffer Zones, Part the Second

Thesis Statement: The Spanish originally believe that they are masters of the Comanches, but as time, violence, and economic matters show, the Comanches mastered the Spanish, at least in the time period from the early 1720s to about the 1880s.

Spain tries to set up colonies in the southwest, and believe that they will have little trouble with the natives.

"Such optimism was not unwarranted. France's expulsion ended French contraband trade and political scheming on the souther plains, giving Spain more sway over the region and its Native inhabitants. Moreover, New Mexio was now western Comanches' only reliable source of European goods, and Spanish policy makers had a reason to expect dependence to translate into compliance...in Spanish designs, the Comanches were masters of the southern plains and the Spanish were masters of the Comanches (p70).""Spanish officials employed patriarchal father-children metaphors and used the diminutive designation 'children' for Comanches, whereas Comanche chiefs spoke of Comanches and Spaniards as brothers bound together by affinial ties and obligations. Casting themselves as fathers, Spanish officials meant to command, but Comanches expected them to act like siblings who would care for their needs" (138).

As time goes by, there are several cultural clashes between the two nations, many resulting in escalating violence. "In the Comanche worldview, gifts, trade, and kinship were inexorably linked....Spaniards, in contrast, made a clear distinction between social and economic ties (p40-1)." The Spanish thought they had complete control over the Comanches, but the Comanches saw them more as partners then dictators. "The deepening linkages between eastern New Mexico and western Comancheria evoked panic among Spanish administrators, who feared that the border trade to Comancheria had the potential of disfiguring the entire economic structure of the colony. When Governor Chacon conducted an inspection of New Mexico's economic conditions in 1803, he was appalled to learn that the strongest economic ties of many local settlements extended eastward to Comancheria" (205).

Diplomacy only goes so far, and the Comanches begin raiding and attacking, which puts a significant strain on the Spanish empire. "By the late 1770s, New Mexio began disintegrating under the weight of Comanche violence...communities dispersed...large sections of New Mexico were left desolate (p76)."

The Spanish also begin losing ground within their own people. "As many as 2,000 eastern villages defied royal authority and attributed this to their 'desire to live without subjection and in complete liberty, in imitation of the wild tribes which they see nearby.'"

Eventually, the Spanish recognize that their defenses are no match for the Comanche raiding parties, and start settling villages at the outer edge of their territory, hoping the Comanches will raid those places, and not focus on important centers, like Mexico City. In essence, the entire area of what is currently Texas is simply being used as a buffer zone. This finally shows that the Comanches had indeed mastered the Spanish, and the Spanish were forced into a permanently defensive position.

Essay question: How did Spanish society change over time in reacting to pressure put on them from the Comanche nation?

Group members:

Christine Gerwe

Chris Brant

Megan Ridenour