Latin American Revolutions
The Colonial System
• Colonial governments mirrored the home governments
• Catholicism had a strong influence on the development of the
colonies
• The major element of the economy was the mining of precious
metals for export
Europeans establish outposts
• Europeans establish major cities as outposts of
colonial authority including:
• Havana
• Mexico City
• Lima
• Sao Paulo
• Buenos Aires
Rigid Class Structure
• Viceroys / Colonial Officers
• Creoles
• Mestizos
Great Conquistadors from Spain
Spanish Parents and
born in the new
world
Mix of Spanish parents and
Native Americans
Influence of American and French Revolutions on
Latin America
• Slaves in Haiti rebelled, abolished slavery, and won independence.
• French, Spanish, and Portuguese colonies gained independence
• Father Miguel Hidalgo started the Mexican independence movement.
Contributions of Toussaint L’Ouverture
• The American and French Revolution had the most influence on the
Haitian slave rebellion
• Former Slave who led the Haitian rebellion against French
• Defeated the armies of three foreign powers; Spain, France, and Britain
Contributions of Simon Bolivar
• Liberated the northern areas of Latin America.
• Tried during the 1820s to bring regions together under a federal
constitution modeled after that of the United States. The plan failed
because of the differences of the Latin American peoples.
• Native-born resident who led revolutionary efforts
The Monroe Doctrine
• Established in 1823
• The document was written by the United
States and supported by the British.
• James Monroe said Latin American nations
should be independent.
• The United States would not allow Europe to
set up any new colonies in North or South
America.
• European interference in the Americas would
be an unfriendly attitude toward the United
States and lead to potential war.
• The United States would regard as a threat to
its own peace and safety any attempt by
European powers to impose their system on
any independent state in the Western
Hemisphere.