The Latin American
Independence Movement
SS6H2 The student will explain the
development of Latin America and the
Caribbean from European colonies to
independent nations.
Colonization
• The governments of Spain and Portugal
ruled most of Latin America for nearly
three hundred years.
• The American Revolution of 1776 gave
Latin Americans the idea that they too
could be free.
Toussaint L’Ouverture
• He was born a slave in the
mid-1700s.
• His father had been a free
African who was captured and
sold into slavery in Saint
Domingue.
• Toussaint was allowed to learn
to read and write by his
plantation owner.
• He became a famous black
freedom fighter.
• He was a major leader of the
slave revolts in Saint
Domingue (Present Day-Haiti)
The French Revolution
• The French Revolution of 1789
• The new French government gained freedom for
all free blacks and mulattoes (those of African
and European ancestors).
• Plantation owners in Saint Dominque were
furious.
• In 1791, the French government changed its
mind and took back the freedom it had given the
blacks and mulattoes.
Slave Revolt
• Toussaint led a slave army and defeated
the French troops.
• By 1793, the French government had
abolished slavery altogether.
• Toussaint lead his men against invading
British and Spanish troops.
• In the end, Toussaint was left in charge of
Domingue even though it was officially a
French colony.
Emperor Napoleon and Toussaint
• In 1802, the French emperor Napoleon
sent troops to Saint Domingue to regain
control .
• He tricked Toussaint!
• He was sent to France and placed in
prison where he died.
• Within two years, the people of Saint
Domingue declared their independence
and renamed their country Haiti.
Question: 248
• Toussaint L’Ouverture was famous for his
role in gaining independence for which
country?
• A. Cuba
• B. Haiti
• C. Mexico
• D. Venezuela
Question: 249
• Which country’s government imprisoned
Toussaint L’Ouverture?
• A. France
• B. Great Britain
• C. Haiti
• D. Spain
Question: 250
• Which important goal did Toussaint
L’Ouverture want to achieve?
• A. freedom for the slaves in Saint
Domingue
• B. Improve production on sugar cane
plantations
Question: 251
• Which childhood event allowed Toussaint
L’Ouverture to learn ides about freedom
and equality?
• A. His owner allowed him to learn to read
and write.
• B. He made a trip to France.
Simon Bolivar
• Simon Bolivar was a
leader in the wars for
independence in
South America. He
and other leaders
fought against
Spanish rule.
• Simon Bolivar and other leaders wanted
independence for all people in Latin
America. Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador,
Panama, Peru, and Venezuela won their
independence through his efforts.
Biography of Simon Bolivar
• Bolivar was born in 1783, in Caracas, in
what is now Venezuela. He was from a
wealthy family. He had an excellent
education and read many books with ideas
on freedom and equality.
• He lived at the time of the French
Revolution and learned of the defeat of the
French royal family.
1810-1824
• Bolivar led different groups of troops
against Spanish rule. He fought in the
lands that are now Venezuela, Colombia,
and Panama.
• He was able to finally defeat the Spanish
in 1824 and end Spanish rule in South
America.
Bolivia
• The country of Bolivia
was named in honor of
Bolivar, and he wrote a
constitution to organize
the country.
• Bolivar is known as “The
Liberator” in South
America. He is also
known as the “George
Washington of South
America.”
Simon Bolivar as Dictator
• He became dictator and
tried to create a single,
large South American
country called Gran
Colombia.
• It covered the entire
northern part of South
America. Fights among
different groups caused
the different countries to
break up.
• Bolivar became infected
with tuberculosis and died
from the disease in 1830.
Grand Colombia Map
252. Simon Bolivar was known as
the liberator for which people?
•
•
•
•
A. Indigenous people
B. Mexicans
C. South Americans
D. Spanish soldiers
253. Which country got its independence
because of Simon Bolivar’s efforts?
•
•
•
•
A. Canada
B. Mexico
C. United States
D. Venezuela
254. Which country’s revolution encouraged
Bolivar to fight for independence?
•
•
•
•
A. France
B. Mexico
C. Spain
D. Venezuela
255. Which country did Bolivar and
his fellow patriots fight against?
•
•
•
•
A. France
B. Mexico
C. Spain
D. Venezuela
Miguel Hidalgo
• He is known as the father
of Mexican
independence.
• He was a priest who led a
peasant army against the
Spanish army in Mexico,
which was then called
New Spain. His army won
some victories, but he did
not live to see
independence.
Biography of Hidalgo
• He was born in 1753. his family saw that
he got a good education.
• He enjoyed reading books with ideas on
freedom and equality.
• He saw that there was no equality for the
peasant workers in Mexico.
• He saw that people born in Spain got
special treatment compared to people
born in Mexico.
He trained to be a priest and worked among
the native people and peasants
Hidalgo and the Independence
Movement
• In 1810, France invaded
Spain, and the king was
removed.
• This created problems in
Mexico.
• People in Mexico were
not sure they supported
the new French
government.
• Others did not support
the old Spanish
government.
• Hidalgo and several of his
friends were a part of a
third group that believed it
was time for Mexico to be
independent.
1810-1821
• Hidalgo was warned that
he was going to be
arrested. Those loyal to
the French government
turned him in.
• On September 16,
Hidalgo gave a speech
encouraging freedom for
Mexico.
• Thousands followed
Hidalgo and they won
many victories against
the Spanish.
• Unfortunately, Hidalgo
and his followers did not
have many weapons.
• The Spanish took Hidalgo
prisoner. He was tried
and executed for treason.
• He was executed by
Spanish soldiers on July
30, 1811.
• In 1821, Spain withdrew
its last troops from
Mexico.
256. Miguel Hidalgo was known as the father
of independence for which country?
•
•
•
•
A. Bolivia
B. Mexico
C. Peru
D. Venezuela
257. What job did Miguel Hidalgo
have in Mexico?
•
•
•
•
A. general
B. peasant
C. priest
D. soldier
258. What event caused people in
Mexico to begin to think about
independent?
• A. France took over Spain and removed
the king.
• B. Mexico had many peasants who were
unhappy.
• C. Spain sent additional troops to fight
against Hidalgo.
• D. Thousands of people followed Hidalgo
after his speech.