Spanish Land Grants were legal documents issued by the Spanish government in the 18th and early 19th centuries, granting land to individuals or groups. These grants were primarily given to encourage settlement and agricultural development in areas like present-day California, Texas, and New Mexico. Recipients often included soldiers, settlers, and missionaries. The land grants played a significant role in shaping the land ownership patterns in the American Southwest. After the Mexican-American War, many of these grants were recognized by the United States, leading to legal disputes and the establishment of land titles that still affect property rights today.