Revolutions in Latin
America
Part 1
What is Latin America?
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Latin America is Central and South
America (and the Caribbean)
It is the countries that were
originally colonized by Spain,
Portugal, and France—the Latin
Language countries.
Spain colonized most of Latin
America.
Map of South America
Go Over Handout
Social Structure of Latin America
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Social status determined by parentage (A
racial hierarchy).
Peninsulares—People that were born in Spain.
They dominated political and social life.
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Creoles—Persons whose ancestors were from
Europe but who were born in Latin America.
Usually upper middle class (owned large
ranches—haciendas, mines or were merchants).
They resented their second-class status.
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Mestizos– People of European and
native American descent. They too,
resented their third class status.
Mulattoes– People of African and
European descent. They were angry
about being denied the status,
wealth, and power that was available
to the whites.
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Native
Americans—
People whose
ancestors were
born in the
Americas.
Slaves—People
from Africa.
Economic Policies
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Mercantilism—The colonies could
only trade with the mother country.
(What would be the 2 things that
would cause tension in Latin America
towards the mother country
[Spain])?
Reasons Colonists are upset with
Spain
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1. They resent the fact that the
Peninsulares dominate colonial
society and politics.
2. They resent mercantilism.
3. The Creoles learn of the ideas of
the Enlightenment and see the
revolutions in America and France.
When the Colonists Revolt
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When Napoleon conquered Spain in
1808, he put his brother Joseph on
the Spanish throne. The colonists
(especially the creoles) saw this as
a good time to try for independence.
Simon Bolivar
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Born to a wealthy
Creole family in what
is today Venezuela,
Bolivar was educated
in Europe and taught
the ideas of the
Enlightenment.
Like many Creoles, he
resents the privileged
position of the
Peninsulares and the
mercantilist policies of
Spain.
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Also, Bolivar was
encouraged by the
revolutions in the
United States and
France.
Called “the
Liberator” or “The
George
Washington of
Latin America.”
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What is Latin America?
What country had colonized most of Latin
America?
What determined a person’s social status
in Latin America?
What group was at the top of Latin
America’s social structure?
Why did people like Bolivar want to be
independent of Spain (want a revolution)?
The Revolution Begins
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In 1810, Bolivar leads the Revolution
that establishes a republic in
Venezuela.
By 1821, Bolivar had liberated
Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, and
Bolivia.
Jose de San Martin
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A Creole from Argentina
who went to military school
in Europe.
In 1816 he led the fight
that gained Argentina
independence from Spain.
Martin, then won
independence in both Chile
and Peru.
Bolivar and San Martin
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For a while, they try
and work together but
their views were too
different and it didn’t
work out.
Eventually, San
Martin steps aside and
lets Bolivar win the
final victories against
Spain
Stop Here
What happens after Independence
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Bolivar hoped for a united South America,
but it quickly fell apart because of
rivalries.
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Bolivar ended up bitter.
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The Creoles benefit the most.
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As for the lower classes—the mulattoes
and the Native Americans, nothing really
changes.
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What is Latin America?

What country had colonized most of Latin America?
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What determined a person’s social status in Latin America?

What group was at the top of Latin America’s social structure?
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Why did people like Bolivar want to be independent of Spain
(want a revolution)?
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Who is known as “the liberator” of Latin America?
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Why did Bolivar end up bitter after the Revolution?
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What group benefited most from the Revolution?
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How did the Revolution effect the lower classes in Latin America?