Luis de Unzaga: How a Spanish Governor Helped Create the United States

In this week’s America’s Founding Series on The P.A.S. Report, Professor Nick Giordano explores story of Luis de Unzaga, the Spanish Governor of Louisiana who played a quiet yet powerful role in America's fight for independence and may have been the first to coin the name “United States of America.” His use of this term, as opposed to the 13 colonies, signified a bold assertion of unity, sovereignty, and nationhood. It was a declaration that these were no longer fragmented colonies under British rule, but a single, self-governing nation determined to shape its own destiny. While not American, Unzaga acted as a crucial patriot to the cause, helping legitimize the birth of a nation on the world stage. Discover how this overlooked Spanish governor helped shape America's name and destiny.

Episode Highlights:

• Luis de Unzaga’s vital covert support for the Patriot cause, including early arms shipments and financial aid.
• Compelling evidence suggests Unzaga was one of the first officials to use the term "Estados Unidos Americanos" (United States of America), potentially influencing its adoption by George Washington and the Founding Fathers.
• Why foreign allies like Unzaga mattered just as much as battlefield victories in securing American independence.

 

📲 Subscribe to The P.A.S. Report’s America's Founding Series to learn about forgotten patriots and the untold stories that shaped the fabric of America.

 

Timestamps

• 00:56 Luis de Unzaga: The Overlooked Patriot
• 06:48 Unzaga's Strategic Support for Independence
• 08:00 Letter to General Washington and Reference to the United States
• 13:34 The Legacy of Luis de Unzaga

 

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