What made New Mexico believe they could defy the Spanish Empire? The Pueblo Revolt of 1680 wasn't a sudden eruption, but a culmination of simmering resentments. For decades, the indigenous Pueblo people endured forced labor under the *encomienda* system, religious persecution as missionaries suppressed their traditional beliefs, and economic exploitation that left them impoverished.
Adding fuel to the fire was a growing sense of cultural and spiritual identity among the Pueblo communities, strengthened by secret ceremonies and resistance. A charismatic leader, Popé, emerged, uniting disparate villages under a common goal: freedom.
Spain's dwindling resources, stretched thin across its vast empire, also played a role. New Mexico, a distant and relatively insignificant colony, likely seemed a manageable risk to rebel against, compared to the heart of the empire. The convergence of these factors – oppression, cultural resilience, strong leadership, and Spain's perceived weakness – created the perfect storm that empowered New Mexico to rise up and temporarily expel the Spanish, forever etching a bold chapter in the history of resistance.
