A View of South-America and Mexico
Written by a Connecticut county judge, this history of revolutionary wars in Spanish colonies compiles published primary and secondary accounts to form a streamlined narrative. In the work’s preface, Niles explains his reason for writing this third-hand account as “the lively interest which the citizens of the United States justly feel in a revolution….” While there is nothing to indicate that Niles was an expert in Spanish American history or contemporary politics, he lists many of the resources that he drew upon. This work was published nearly fifty years after America’s Declaration of Independence, but its creation is indicative of an American public that was still invested in anti-monarchical efforts around the world.
John M. Niles (1787-1856).
A View of South-America and Mexico, Comprising their History, the Political Condition, Geography, Agriculture, Commerce, &c., of the Republics of Mexico, Guatamala [sic], Colombia, Peru, the United Provinces of South-America and Chile… New York: H. Huntington, Jr., 1825.
Lehigh University Catalog Record:https://asa.lib.lehigh.edu/asa/Record/263864
A version of this text has been digitized and is available through the Internet Archive.