Navigational Chart of Jamaica, Cape Gracias a Dios, and the Mosquito Coast, 1775

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The map titled "The Island of Jamaica and Cape Gracias a Dios with the Banks (Shows Moskito Kings Party)" illustrates … Read more The map titled "The Island of Jamaica and Cape Gracias a Dios with the Banks (Shows Moskito Kings Party)" illustrates a significant historical period marked by shifting colonial influences and territorial disputes in Central America and the Caribbean. Here's a detailed : Key Features of the Map: 1. **Geographical Coverage**: - The map highlights the Island of Jamaica and Cape Gracias a Dios, including the surrounding banks and coastal regions. - It prominently features the Mosquito Coast, an area along the eastern coast of present-day Nicaragua and Honduras. 2. **Political Context**: - During the time this map represents, Spanish power over the Mosquito Coast had diminished, and British influence was resurging. - The Captaincy General of Guatemala aimed to assert control over the Mosquito Coast but faced challenges. 3. **Significant Historical Events**: - In 1803, the Spanish government, influenced by the advice of Gil de Taboada and Ezpeleta, decided against Guatemala's request to control the Mosquito Coast. - Instead, sovereignty over the Mosquito Coast was transferred to the Viceroyalty of New Granada (modern-day Colombia) by a Royal Decree on November 30, 1803. - This decision reaffirmed the control of New Granada over the Archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia, and Santa Catalina, which were used as bases against British privateers operating from the Mosquito Coast. 4. **Impact of the Royal Decree of 1803**: - The decree led to ongoing territorial disputes between the United Provinces of Central America (later Nicaragua) and Gran Colombia (later Colombia) throughout the 19th century. - Spanish rule was never fully restored over the Mosquito Coast, and in 1806, the British occupied the Archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia, and Santa Catalina during their war against Spain. See less