Congress of Soissons facts for kids
The Congress of Soissons was an important meeting of European countries. It took place in the French town of Soissons from June 14, 1728, to July 1729. The main countries involved were Great Britain and Spain.
This meeting, along with the Convention of Pardo, aimed to end the Anglo-Spanish War of 1727. The war was about trade and land disagreements between the two nations.
What They Talked About
At the Congress, Spain agreed that Great Britain could keep Gibraltar and Menorca. These were important territories. In return, Great Britain agreed to recognize Spain's rights in Italy.
Why the British Were There
The main goal for the British was to stop Spain and Austria from becoming strong allies against Britain. British delegates Stephen Poyntz and Horatio Walpole wanted to solve the problems with Spain as smoothly as possible.
The Duke of Newcastle guided the British team. They took a firm stance in the talks. They believed they were in a strong position to negotiate. This strategy worked well for them. The Dutch Republic also had a representative at the meeting, Sicco van Goslinga.
After the Congress
The Congress of Soissons helped pave the way for a final peace treaty. This treaty was agreed upon later in Seville.
However, many of the disagreements between Britain and Spain came back. Over the next ten years, these problems grew. This led to another war between the two countries. It was called the War of Jenkins' Ear, which started in 1739.
See also
In Spanish: Congreso de Soissons para niños
