Coinciding with the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United StatesHistory Channel premieres this Saturday 4 (10:00 p.m.) his new and ambitious documentary titled July 4: a Spanish story.

The production, which will also be available on demand, reveals the decisive role and little recognized that he had Spain in the victory of the Thirteen Colonies against the British Empire.

4th of July: a Spanish story rebuild the complex network of secret diplomacy and covert support at the beginning of the rebellion, as well as the subsequent decisive military intervention of the Spanish Crown to support the rebels.

The documentary starts from geopolitical context of 1776when the Thirteen Colonies were fighting for their independence surrounded by Spanish territories.

under the reign of Charles IIISpain saw in this conflict a opportunity to weaken its great rival, Great Britain and, after the Seven Years’ War, recover Florida, Menorca and Gibraltar.

Nails negotiations in Parisamong the representatives of the 13 colonies, Benjamin Franklin, Silas Deane and Arthur Lee and the Spanish ambassador in Paris, the Count of Aranda, laid the foundations for the Spanish Crown to offer help.

Spain not only sent weapons, gunpowder, uniforms and resources, but ended up declaring war on Great Britain, intervening militarily in America (Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico) and in Europe (“Great Siege of Gibraltar”, reconquering Menorca, and threatening the British coasts themselves and their oceanic trade routes), decisively dispersing the forces of the British Empire.

Among the Spanish protagonists of this episode that would change the course of history, the Count of Arandapromoter of Spanish support from the court and negotiator with the American envoys; and Diego de Gardoquiwhich covertly sent key supplies to the rebels.

They are also Bernardo de Galvezgovernor of Louisiana and key figure in the British defeat in the Gulf of Mexico; either Luis de Cordovawhich dealt the British Royal Navy the biggest logistical blow in its history to date.

«On an anniversary as significant as the 250 years of the independence of the United States, we wanted to contribute a look that would highlight the little recognized role that Spain played in one of the great milestones of modern history,» points out Antonio Ruizgeneral director of AMC Global Media in Spain.

Directed and produced by Andrew Molina, the documentary features the participation of Spanish and international experts such as Hugo O’Donell, Eduardo Garrigues, Eva García, José Carlos Gracia, Kathleen Duval, Rhonda Barlow, Liz Covart and Ricardo Herrera.

«This new original documentary is part of the History Channel commitment with the dissemination of the history of our country,» adds the manager.

The production also addresses how the United States did not recognize Spanish support or the debt incurred. Although its role was fundamental, it took Spain centuries to receive recognition.

In 2014, the United States Congress appointed Bernardo de Gálvez Honorary Citizenone of the country’s highest honors, which has only been awarded to eight people in all of history.

The American historian Thomas E. Chavez He summarized the importance of these events in his academic work: «Without Spanish help, the thirteen American colonies would not have been able to achieve their independence from the British Crown.»

‘We the Hispanics’

After the premiere of the documentary, Canal Historia will broadcast, for the first time on television, at 10:55 p.m., the documentary We the Hispanics.

The movie of José Luis López-Linares explores the deep Hispanic imprint on the history and culture of the United States, from the first Spanish expeditions to today.

Highlights figures such as Francisco Vázquez de Coronado, María Jesús de Ágreda and Junípero Serra and highlights how the legacy of Spain, often forgotten, influenced cultural mixing, music, missions and even equestrian traditions that connect charros with cowboys.