Question

In the early 1800s, what had happened to Spain's empire in the Americas?

A) It expanded significantly.
B) It collapsed, losing most of its territories.
C) It remained unchanged.
D) It became a confederation.

Answer 1

Spain's empire in the Americas collapsed, losing most of its territories, due to the Peninsular War and the rise of independence movements in Spanish America.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the early 1800s, Spain's empire in the Americas collapsed, losing most of its territories. The Spanish empire had already faced challenges due to colonial revolts and weak governance, but the Peninsular War, which began in 1807 when Napoleon occupied Spain, further weakened Spain's control over its colonies. Insurgents in Spain established regional governing councils, and creole elites in the Americas also took advantage of this situation to assert their own self-rule, eventually leading to the independence movements throughout Spanish America.