What dying in Spain taught me about being American | Iago Macknik-Conde | TEDxLogan Circle

A TEDxLogan Circle talk by Iago Macknik-Conde on Hispanic contributions to the American Revolution. The speaker recounts reenacting the Siege of Pensacola in Macharaviaya, a small town in Southern Spain, where Spanish General Bernardo de Gálvez is honored each year with a celebration of American Independence. The talk argues that Hispanic soldiers suffered more casualties in the Revolutionary War than the French allies, yet their role is little known. Marking the nation's 250th anniversary, it offers a more complete view of what it means to be American.

• Reenactment of the Siege of Pensacola in Macharaviaya, Spain
• General Bernardo de Gálvez and his hometown's annual celebration
• Hispanic soldiers' role in the American Revolutionary War
• Reflections on the meaning of being American

Two years ago, on the Fourth of July, I “died” — and it was the best day of my life. That’s because I was reenacting my favorite battle from the American Revolution: the Siege of Pensacola. Unlike most Revolutionary War reenactments, this one wasn’t in Virginia or Massachusetts. It was in Macharaviaya, a small town in Southern Spain. The battle centered on one of the greatest heroes of the American Revolution: the Spanish General Bernardo de Gálvez. Every year, Gálvez’s hometown of Macharaviaya celebrates American Independence in his honor. Hispanic soldiers suffered more casualties in the Revolutionary War than our French allies, yet almost no one understands their contribution. As we mark the nation’s 250’s anniversary, Iago’s talk illuminates this chapter of history and gives us a more complete answer to the age-old question of what it means to be an American. Iago Macknik-Conde is a Lucinda Beneventi Findley History Scholar multi-majoring in History, Political Science, and Economics at Macaulay Honors College. A two-time Bill of Rights Institute Fellow, his research accolades include First Prize in the National WWII Museum’s Essay Contest, the George Watt Memorial Essay Prize, and the Gilder Lehrman Institute's 2025 Legacies of Service Prize. He is also a recipient of the Congressional Award Gold Medal for public service. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx