Why was Belize... (country, place, compared, time)

[motownewave]

A British colony and NOT a Spanish colony? I also am surprised the Falkland Islands were British and not Spanish, but that isn't as unusual.

[UrbanLuis]

Belize was a Spanish colony at one point.

[motownewave]

Originally Posted by UrbanLuis

Belize was a Spanish colony at one point.

Thanks but why did it change?

[gwillyfromphilly]

Originally Posted by motownewave

Thanks but why did it change?

The Spanish didn't see much economic value in that area compared to the rest of Latin America.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by motownewave

Thanks but why did it change?

Brits kind of encroached on it for a long time, logging it, and also Brit pirates used it as a home base and hiding place from which to attack Spanish galleons. There were a couple of attempts to settle ownership, and eventually it was made official: British Honduras. But Guatemala also got in on the act, claiming it's always been part of Guatemala. Maps in Guatemala show it as part of that country.

You can check Wiki for more detail.

[motownewave]

How did the Falkland Islands in the New World and Gibraltar in the Old World both end up British possessions even though they both were islands in Spanish waters?