The Pueblo Revolt of 1680 was a prominent uprising against Spanish colonial rule in present-day New Mexico. For nearly 80 years, the Pueblo peoples had faced relentless persecution, forced labor, and oppression from Spanish missionaries and settlers who imposed their culture and religion upon them. The Spark for the revolt came from growing frustration over the Spanish restrictions on native cultural practices, religious ceremonies, and the demands for tribute and labor, which often led to severe punishment for those who resisted.

Under the leadership of Popé, a religious leader from the Taos Pueblo, various Pueblo tribes united to coordinate a massive revolt against the Spanish. On August 21, 1680, as part of a calculated plan, the Pueblo warriors simultaneously attacked 21 Spanish missions and settlements. The city of Santa Fe, the heart of Spanish rule in the region, became a focal point of the uprising. The rebels, numbering in the thousands, effectively overpowered the Spanish defenses, forcing the settlers and soldiers to abandon the city and retreat to El Paso del Norte.

The repercussions of this audacious revolt were felt throughout the Southwest. The Pueblo peoples temporarily regained control of their lands and were able to practice their customs freely. Indigenous groups remained united in their goal of reclaiming their autonomy, and the revolt significantly shifted the dynamics between Spanish settlers and Native American tribes in the region, ultimately leading to a period of relative peace and negotiation until the Spanish re-conquest in the late 1690s.