(Belize)British Honduras The conquest of the new world and the development of Central America hides many a dark

secrecy that is slow to come to light. The rich history is rooted in a power struggle of Royal houses of Europe in the 15th, 16th and 17th century. It has deals and compromise, with treachery and tying in piracy of the high seas with fearless settlers facing an unknown future. Combine all of that with a papal decree just cap the interest. After the discovery of the West Indies by Columbus the explorers of the Spanish armada of 15th century must have been ecstatic at fortunes to be found. There ambitions combined with royal support were key. The royal courts must have been at overwhelmed the expansion of their empires, as their coffers grew fuller. I can just image that as news spread among other royal courts of Europe must set their eyes on the riches in the newfound land America. We see very soon after the discovery of the western land the Catholic Church had played its card in the future roll of exploitation that was to commence. (Bollard) In time the various royal houses in Europe began issuing there own royal decrees, to help establish their rights and ownership of the new lands. It appears from various sources this was in direct response to the papal donation of Pope Alexander VI i (Caiger 17) As recently as 1944 they see the decrees as legal precedents in establishing justification for there own actions in quest for new riches. Through most of the 1500s and 1600s and early Great Briton navy was small and of no competition to the Spanish fleets. So in a seeking a way to itself to fund the English exploration Queen Elizabeth issued degrees and charters to civilian sailors. The decree allowed it to expand it navy at little or no cost buy allowing them to pillage the Spanish ships in exchange the seafaring explorers got to keep most of there booty and gain extensive experience in the expanse of new world. (Caiger 21) (Jang) (Jang)While at the same time a silent battle was brewing between nobility of Europe and the Catholic Church. The rise of Pirates of the Caribbean is in direct relationship to the competing decrees rejecting the Spanish and Portuguese decree issuing its own royal charters. The uninhabited coast Yucatan of was the perfect base of operations to terrorize the Spanish fleets as they sailed from Mexico to Cuba on their way to Spain. with there gold and silver and escape that helped With the contrasting decrees established i was to play out in the new world. In the book British Honduras, Clegern he writes : The long drawn-out, perilous, often well-nigh desperate, but finally triumphant struggle of a few English buccaneers to establish a foothold on the Spanish Main, and of there descendants to win recognition of their tiny holding as a Colony of the British Empire. After three hundred years, the story is still alive, the struggle is not ended, the embers of longsmoldering controversies as liable to be fanned to flame. It seems the roots of began so controversies long ago.

Sailing routes from Buccaneers Honduras (Coast ")

In this early map of the from 1800 hundreds I have inserted the probably routes that buccaneers may have used the unique position of British Honduras in central america. The coasting is protected by cays and reefs that made navigation challenging to the Spanish fleets seeking retaliation to the plundering of there cargo laden ships heading to Cuban and then to Spain. In time this also provided a safe haven for the early loggers and colonist to hide from Spanish repercussion.

The history of British Honduras in Central America is intriguing by the fact there is barely a mention of the early power struggles that pitted Spain against the other European powers. Modern research exposes exciting and interesting facts because of the variety of sources that are immediately available I noticed that there are several elements that appear to be predecessors that cause of to most issues between Belize and Guatemala. History has shown us that at one point they were one and the same but European conquest separated the newfound lands things changes. As each country had a similar beginning but things changes very quickly in the early years. The lands location various uses versus the exploitation and raping of riches to support the crown.

It is plausible to believe that the Pope Alexander IV issuing Papal Bulls in June 21, 1493 may have instigated everything. In the decree it gave all land know and those to be discovered as a present to their Most Catholic Majesties Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain. (Caiger 18) In effect the rights to everything and anything that may transpire. In senses they owned the new world because the church said so. This combined with the fact that they had one of the most powerful navies at the time easily reinforced the action that transpired. In time, as the reports of new world had been discovered began to circulate about Europe, the other royal houses would soon follow suit follow with there own decrees. The must have asked themselves why Spain and Portugal was giving all the rights to the new world and they none. The British mariners soon launch their own exploration and business enterprise in the Caribbean in defiance of the decree. By 1567 John Hawkins and Francis Drake were smuggling slaves into the West Indian plantations. (Caiger 18) In 1587 Queen Elizabeth declared her Declaration of Policy which formally set in stone the British response to the papal controversies decree. It in effect allowed created the British navy. Many were issued Royal Orders or Letters of Margue (Caiger 21) to justify their actions of the day. Its real effect was it allowed the looting of the Spanish vessels and to establish colonies in support the actions. As the business of a royal navy expanded the spear of influence of royal crown tension would arise. The early buccaneers as they were called were really the Pirates of the Caribbean, as we know today from TV and Movies. If we just use our imaginations a little we see the early buccaneers sailing along the islands and coasts of Central Americain search of the Spanish Galleons filled with riches. As they sailed about the straits and narrows from Mexico to Columbia seeking their fame and fortune were filled hardships and danger. Their prize was the Spanish galleons loaded with gold and silver sailing to Havana, Cuba to prey upon. Just think as they sited the ships they would soon over take them and by sheer skill and courage capturing the booty. That is not say to they did not suffer damage. If they lost or were capturing they were likely to hanged or imprisoned. After events gallant sea battles the buccaneering ships must have suffered damaged or just normal wear and tear from the sea. The buccaneers would have seek safe harbor among the rivers and shallows of British Honduras coast line to rebuild and refurbish their ships to continue on their quest. A careful review of the maps show us that many of the names still remain from era today. British buccaneers action lead to setting small colonies alone the Gulf on Honduras (Caiger 26) to rebuild and repair the ships. This simple action was the key in future events. It lead to the cutting of logwood for ship repair, to cutting logwood for shipments to England. The natural barriers provide for safe harbors it allow the early settlers to remain hidden among the cays and rivers that dot the coast of British Honduras. In time small trading settlements grew in size and irritation to the Spanish government.

In recourse Spanish leadership order retaliation on some of these The early settlement might have been wiped out permanently by the Spanish Armanda retaliating and burning the settlements if it had not been for the determination of the Puritans settlers desire to practice freedom of religion and immigrate here. There actions were key leading them to return and rebuild or establish new villages. I do not doubt that the English crown was happy that it had now establish a toe hold on Central America as it had done in North America . The first real British settlers arrived around the middle of the 17th century (Bollard 21) for the purpose of supply in raw material, probably establishes the first settlement. They were probably log cutters or pirates escaping the reprisal from the Spanish. The growing business of suppling England with logwood to support enterprise of su who

In todays world if this were the case I tend believe that would have created a quite a issue among other nations who began to realize that they were being exclude. Not to discount the fact that catholic church at time being the most powerful organization if the know world. The The Spanish tying the rulers and Catholic Church in Since the discovery of west by Spain there is a well-defined pattern of conquest and exploitation by all those who set forth to master the new world. In an unusual twist of fate the British Crown became the holder of the territory of British Honduras in the new world. Portugal and then Spain had got off to a far more promising start with regards to maritime domination of the seas from the fifteenth century onwards. They had come to understand the ship design, navigational and long distance skills required to explore and commercially exploit the routes that they discovered. The English were always playing catch up or were merely picking up the scraps left by the Portuguese and Spanish. ii In the 1500s new lands were to be discovered and mapped by the Spanish as they laid claim to vast new territories through out the new world. This was soon followed by the Conquistador searched the Americas for Gold and Silver. The goals of seeking gold and riches lead others to seek that but in a more creative manner. The Rise of Pirates of Caribbean may have been just the instrument that lead to the start of Belize . (Luscombe)

Pirates seeking safe moorage from storms or a place to hide. While they search for Spanish Gallons lade in search of Gold must have stubble unpon that mangoroves . The thick jungle provided cover that fit the bill to hid from the Spanish and conduct raids againist the ships laden with gold bound for the Spainish crown. (Luscombe).

Through out the late 19th and 20th century was very little attention was paid to the colony. Guatemala was undergoing numerous changes in government control of the country an issue a decree claiming that the territory occupie (Chacon) by the British colony in 1944 Guatemala issued declaration that the territory referred to a British Honduras was actually part of Guatemala. They choose to justify it by referring various treaties such a signed as the Anglo-Spanish of 1783 and 1786 by Briton and Spain (Clegern 7). In response Briton refused to accept the reasoning since they we occupying the land and during the war it provided a essential manpower resource combined with natural resource lead by English settlers who felt it was there natural right dating back to early log cutters who were give the rights. The true reason may never be known but it appears that British Honduras was significantly better off that all its Latin American neighbors. Current records show Belize has a significantly higher education level per capital, high living standard and per capital they have had a Higher GNP even thou they had fewer natural resources (Ralph Lee Woodward 414). We will never fully if the case of Guatemala true reasoning was claim the territory was expansionism or power struggle that existed internally with the Military leaders control until 1944. (Chacon) Since

(Ralph Lee Woodward)

Bibliography
A. Arrowsmith, to His Majesty, [1826]. Map Of Guatemala. 1826. Libary of Congress. G4810 1826 .A7 January 2011 <http://memory.loc.gov>. Bollard, O. Nigel. The Formation of A Colonial Society. Baltimore : The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1997. Caiger, Stephen. British Honduras Past and Present. London: George Allen & Unwin, 1951. Chacon, Dr. Ramon. "History of Central america." Santa Clara, Feb 2011. Clegern, Wayne M. "British Honduras Colonial Dead End." Clegern, Wayne M. Colonial Dead End, 1959. Ed. Max Goodrich. Baton Rouge: Louisian State University Press, 1967. Coast ", Haunts of " The Brethren of the. Golden age of Piracy. Unk UNK 1897. "Buccaneers and Pirates of Our Coasts". 21 Febuary 2011 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piracy_in_the_Caribbean>. Jang, Franics. Belize Michael Miller. Santa Clara, 10 Febuary 2011.

Luscombe, Stephen. Central America . 1996. 16 January 2011 <http://www.britishempire.co.uk/images3/centralamerica1892.jpg>. Mendoza, Jose Luis. "Britain and Her Treaties on Belize (British Honduras)." Mendoza, Jose Luis. Britain and Her Treaties on Belize (British Honduras). Trans. Lilly De John Osborne. Guatemala: Ministry For Foreign Affairs, 1959. Ralph Lee Woodward, Jr. Central America a nation Divided. Vol. 3rd. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999.

(Luscombe) (Mendoza) (Ralph Lee Woodward)

Bibliography
A. Arrowsmith, to His Majesty, [1826]. Map Of Guatemala. 1826. Libary of Congress. G4810 1826 .A7 January 2011 <http://memory.loc.gov>. Bollard, O. Nigel. The Formation of A Colonial Society. Baltimore : The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1997. Caiger, Stephen. British Honduras Past and Present. London: George Allen & Unwin, 1951. Chacon, Dr. Ramon. "History of Central america." Santa Clara, Feb 2011. Clegern, Wayne M. "British Honduras Colonial Dead End." Clegern, Wayne M. Colonial Dead End, 1959. Ed. Max Goodrich. Baton Rouge: Louisian State University Press, 1967. Coast ", Haunts of " The Brethren of the. Golden age of Piracy. Unk UNK 1897. "Buccaneers and Pirates of Our Coasts". 21 Febuary 2011 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piracy_in_the_Caribbean>. Jang, Franics. Belize Michael Miller. Santa Clara, 10 Febuary 2011. Luscombe, Stephen. Central America . 1996. 16 January 2011 <http://www.britishempire.co.uk/images3/centralamerica1892.jpg>. Mendoza, Jose Luis. "Britain and Her Treaties on Belize (British Honduras)." Mendoza, Jose Luis. Britain and Her Treaties on Belize (British Honduras). Trans. Lilly De John Osborne. Guatemala: Ministry For Foreign Affairs, 1959. Ralph Lee Woodward, Jr. Central America a nation Divided. Vol. 3rd. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999.

(A. Arrowsmith)