Also.......it helps to keep in mind.......how much Spain conquered of what is now the USA............the USA.....under Pres. Jefferson acquired the entire mid west from France.......bought it in the Louisiana purchase.................but France had just bought it from Spain.........both countries had thinned out too much.............................and Spain dedicated themselves to what is now Latin America.........of course the Indians must have been like...........these people are buying and selling our land like we are not even here...........

Viceroyalty of New Spain

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Viceroyalty of New Spain Virreynato de Nueva España
←  ←  ←  1521–1821  →  →  →
Coat of arms
map of New Spain in red, with territories claimed but not controlled in orange.
Capital	Mexico City
Language(s)	Spanish
Religion	Roman Catholicism
Government	Monarchy
King of Spain
- 1535-1556	Charles I
- 1813-1821	Ferdinand VII
Viceroy
- 1535-1550	Antonio de Mendoza
- 1821-1821	Juan O'Donojú
History
- Spanish conquest of Mexico	1521
- First viceking appointed	1535
- Grito de Dolores	1810
- Consummation of Mexican Independence	1821
Population
- 1519 est.	20.000.000
- 1810 est.	7.657.300
Currency	Peso de Oro

The Viceroyalty of New Spain was the name of the viceroy-ruled territories of the Spanish Empire in North America and its peripheries in Asia from 1535 to 1821.New Spain was the name that the Spanish gave to the area that today is central and southern Mexico, and since the capital city of the Viceroyalty was in Mexico City, the name was also used for the viceroyalty.

The Viceroyalty of New Spain's territory included what is the Bay Islands (until 1643), Cayman Islands (until 1670), Central America (as far as the southern border ofCosta Rica until 1821), Cuba, Florida, Hispaniola (including Haiti until 1697), Jamaica (until 1655) Mariana Islands, Mexico, Philippines, Puerto Rico, nearly all of thesouthwestern United States (including all or parts of the modern-day U.S. states of California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas andFlorida). Spain claimed areas as far north as British Columbia and Alaska, but the northern boundary of New Spain was redefined by the Adams-Onís Treaty of 1819. Until 1739, New Spain also included Venezuela.

The territories were separated into provinces. Provinces were led by a governor, who was responsible for the administration of the province and often also led the province's army and militias. The provinces were grouped together under five high courts, called Audiencias in Spanish, at Santo Domingo, Mexico City, Guatemala,Guadalajara and Manila. Both the high courts and the governors had autonomy from the viceroy and carried out most duties on their own. Only on important issues did the viceroy become involved in ruling the provinces directly.

In 1821, Spain lost continental territories when it recognized the independence of Mexico, as well as Santo Domingo when it was invaded by Haiti that same year. However, Cuba, Puerto Rico and Spanish East Indies (including Mariana Islands and the Philippines) remained a part of the Spanish crown until the Spanish–American War (1898).