Latin American Independence Movements

During the late 18th century, the Enlightenment, American and French Revolutions helped spark powerful political and economic movements throughout the entire Latin American region.  Liberty , equality and other democratic ideals found their way into the hearts of great freedom fighters like Simón Bolívar and Toussaint L'Overture.  These leaders and other helped move forward great reforms for the people of Latin America and win independence from the colonial powers of western Europe.

I.   Latin America Independence - The Basics

A.  Society divided into social classes based upon birth

1.  Peninsulares are the men born in Spain and were the highest class and held the most powerful political positions

2.  Creoles are Spaniards born in Latin America and often were army officers

3.  Mestizos are mixed European and Indian ancestry

4.  Mulattos are people of mixed European and African ancestry

5.  Africans

6.  Indians 

B.  European bloodline would guarantee  a person more power and wealth while people of African and Indian ancestry were the most oppressed and poverty stricken

C.  Causes for reform included Napoleon's conquests, America 's independence, the French Revolution and the Enlightenment

II.  Independence Movements and their Leaders

A.  Haiti

1.  Caribbean French colony of Saint Domingue on the western part of Hispaniola  

2.  Majority of population made up of African slaves terrorized and controlled by plantation owners

3.  Toussaint L'Overture led a revolt leading to the abolishment of slavery and an independent country of Haiti  

B.  South America

1.  Wealthy charismatic Venezuelan Creole general, Simón Bolívar, led a freedom fight that earned him the name " Liberator "

2.  Led daring battles and won Venezuela 's independence from Spain in 1811

3.  Teamed with José de San Martín to defeat Spanish forces in Ecuador

4.  Bolívar says "I will not rest until I have broken the chains that binds us to the will of Spain "

C.  Argentina - José de San Martín helped win independence in 1816 for Argentina but worked to free neighboring Chile to end the constant threat of Spain

D.  Mexico

1.  Popular uprising from the Mestizos and peasants led first by Miguel Hidalgo and later Padre José María Morelos

2.  Mexico 's leaders were greatly influenced by the Enlightenment

3.  Mexico 's revolution suffered several defeats until it declared independence in 1821

E.  Brazil - Through a bloodless revolution,  Brazil wins independence from Portugal in 1822

III.  Conclusions

A.  Independence comes to Latin American nations from a range of methods and events, from violent battles to bloodless revolutions

B.  Unfortunately, poverty and disunity takes the place of European powers for future decades

C.  Latin American independence movements were triumphant in putting to action the ideas of the Enlightenment modeled earlier from America and France

Key Terms

Before and After