The Age of Exploration
1492-1750
Technology Improves
Cartographers
Astrolabe
Caravel
Mapmakers created
more accurate maps
and sea charts
Used to measure angles of
the sun to find latitude
New sail design that
allowed for sailing into the
wind
Beats hand over hand
method
Motives
Italian and Muslim merchants controlled trade. As goods passed from merchants
to merchant its price increased drastically. This prompted the Europeans to find
their own trade routes and cutting the cost.
Spice
trader
Muslim
merchant
to Italy
Italian
Merchant
to Europe
Bought
by
European
Exploration
(3) New advances led to increased sailing: Compass, Astrolabe,
Cartography, Caravel ships
Portuguese and Spanish dominate exploration:
Portuguese
Spanish
1415- Prince Henry the Navigator
1492- Columbus Sails West towards Asia
-fleet of ships explore African Coast
-The New world is split b/t Spain and
finding Cape of Good Hope (Dias 1488)
Portugal by Treaty of Tordesillas
-Vasco da Gama found all water trade
-Founded Columbian Exchange- Global
route to India’s port cities
transfer of goods, food, ideas and
people
Imperialism
A policy of extending a country's power and
influence through diplomacy or military force.
Mercantilism
Policy by which a nation sought to export more than it imported in order to
build its supply of gold and silver.
Mercantilism is heavily regulated by the government.
American colonists were British citizens
subject to the Kings laws and wishes.
For the King the colonies were a source
of income. The colonists would ship
raw materials to Britain where they
would be manufactured into goods.
The goods would travel back to the
colonies where they would be sold.
Latin America:
Mexico, Central America and South America
Latin discontent
The people of Latin America were
frustrated with the social, racial and
political system they were forced under
for the past 300 years.
The peninsulares controlled society
while the natives were forced into
slavery: Encomienda system
Social Classes
Peninsulares- Spanish Born
Creoles- American born Spanish
Mestizos- Spanish and Native
American
Mulattoes- Spanish and African
Natives and African (slaves)
Catalyst for change
When Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Spain in 1808 the people of
Spanish controlled Latin America saw it as an opportunity to
revolt.
Napoleon placed his brother on the throne of Spain. Latin
American leaders saw this as a sign of Spain’s weakness. With
Spain preoccupied with the French, the opportunity for them to
demand independence from colonial rule had arrived.
Revolutionary Fever
The people of Latin America had witness the American Revolution. Then the
French Revolution. They were inspired by both, particularly the creoles, who
read translated copies of the American Declaration of Independence.
• Lack of political
influence
• Distant foreign
king
American
French
• Outdated social
system
• Financial crisis
• Unfair Social
classes
• Lack of political
influence
Latin
Haiti’s Revolution
In the 1700’s Haiti was a profitable
sugar colony for the French.
Many of the Haitians were angry
over the issue of slavery, and
wanted it abolished.
-Toussaint L’Ouverture, a slave
fought to help Haiti gain their
independence from the French.
In 1791 a slave revolt broke out,
and L’Ouverture quickly took charge.
Toussaint L’Ouverture
In 1789 L’ouverture reached his
goal, and the enslaved Haitians
were set free.
L’Overture began rebuilding Haiti,
winning support with the
plantation owners and healing
the rifts between the social
classes.
Though the slaves were free,
Haiti was still a part of the French
empire
Haiti struggles for freedom
In 1802 Napoleon Bonaparte
was determined to regain
control over Haiti.
This time L’Ouverture fought for
full independence. However he
was caught and shipped to
France before Haiti became fully
free in 1804.
Mexico
Father Miguel Hidalgo, a creole priest began a
campaign to gain freedom from Spanish rule in
Mexico.
“My children, will you be free? Will you make the
effort to recover the lands stolen from your
forefathers by the hated Spaniards 300 years ago?”
Father Hidalgo’s words inspired a ragged army of
mestizos and Native Americans to march to Mexico
City. They demanded freedom, an end to slavery and
better living conditions for natives.
Growing opposition
The creoles soon felt that their way of
life would be threatened by an major
social reforms.
Hidalgo was captured and executed
less than a year after starting the
revolution. His followers scattered.
Mexican Independence
Calls for reform and Mexican
independence continued with little
success until 1802.
In Spain (1802) liberal reformers forced
the king to issue a constitution. Fearing
the liberal policies of Spain would change
life in Mexico, the creoles, mestizos and
Natives overthrew Spanish rule.
Though independent, life for the Mexicans
did not change much.
Review
Simon Bolivar and Miguel Hidalgo, leaders of
Latin American independence movements,
were inspired by successful revolutions in
1. the United States and France
2. the Soviet Union and China
3. Cuba and Costa Rica
4. Egypt and Kenya
Review
During the early 1800’s, which was a major influence
on the struggle for political independence in Latin
America?
1. poor conditions in urban centers in Latin America
2. the American and French Revolutions
3. the desire of the Roman Catholic Church in Latin
America to escape European control
4. demands by Latin American workers to own their
own factories
Review
3. One similarity in the leadership of Latin Americas
Jose de San Martin, Toussaint L’Ouverture, Bernardo
O’Higgins, and Pedro I was that each leader
1. opposed United States intervention in Haiti
2. led a struggle to gain freedom for the people of his
nation
3. opposed membership of his nation in the League of
Nations
4. established an absolute monarchy in his nation
South America
The first major challenge
against Spanish rule was led by
Tupca Amaru (Incan descent) in
1780.He was captured and
killed
But the revolt led the king to
investigate the encomienda
system (slavery) and he later
abolished it
Simon Bolivar “The Liberator”
An educated creole, Simon
Bolivar, was inspired by the
French and American
revolutions. In 1810 he led
an uprising in Venezuela. He
was easily crushed.
However, Bolivar created a
daring plan to cross the
Andes and attack the
Spanish at Bogota
(Columbia). He won.
The Liberator
After his success in Columbia
Simon Bolivar moved south
into Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia.
He joined forces with Jose de
San Martin, and together they
defeated the Spanish
throughout South America.
Bolivar attempted to unite
South America into one nation:
Gran Colombia
Gran Colombia
South America Failure
Though the South Americans had achieved
independence from Spain, it’s common people
had simply changed one set of masters for
another.
It will take decades for the nations of South
America to create stable governments
Review
“I will never allow my hands to be idle nor
my soul to rest until I have broken the
chains laid upon us by Spain.”
This statement was most likely made by
1. a Latin American nationalist
2. a Portuguese explorer
3. a Roman Catholic bishop
4. a Spanish conquistador
Review
Which of these situations was the direct result
of the other three?
1. nations of Latin America won independence
2. revolutions occurred in North America and
France
3. the Napoleonic wars weakened Spain’s
power
4. creoles and mestizos became discontented
with Spanish rule
Review
The 19th-century independence movements
in Latin America were influenced by
1. Marxist ideology
2. the Aztec wars against Hernando Cortez
3. liberation theology
4. the American and the French Revolutions
Latin American Revolutions
Haitian Review