A Great Fear: Luís de Onís and the Shadow War against Napoleon in Spanish America, 1808–1812

Spanish colonial officials, led by Luís de Onís, amplified fears of French subversion during Napoleon's occupation, despite minimal evidence. This rhetoric fostered suspicion and militarization in the Americas, contributing to long-term alienation from Spain and the empire's eventual collapse. Hawkins's study analyzes archival documents—including those from Seville’s Archivo General de Indias—and diplomatic records from the U.S., Argentina, and Guatemala, revealing how Onís's reports shaped counterinsurgency measures that persisted even after Spain’s liberation in 1814. The research also highlights early U.S. expansionist threats perceived through Spanish-American relations.

Büschges, C. (2020). A Great Fear: Luís de Onís and the Shadow War against Napoleon in Spanish America, 1808–1812. Hispanic American Historical Review, 100(3), 563–564. https://doi.org/10.1215/00182168-8350082