LATIN AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENTS – RESEARCH PAPER ASSIGNMENT
Background:
During the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the French, Spanish and Portuguese colonies of North, Central and
South America and the Caribbean experienced wars of independence that resulted in their political independence from
their European mother countries. These wars for independence began after the American & French Revolutions
successfully overthrew the monarchy. By the middle of the 19th century, virtually all of Mexico, Central and South
America was free from European control. Haiti, a French slave colony, was the first “New World” colony to follow the
North Americans to independence.
The causes of these revolts are numerous and complex. However, there were several long term and immediate factors
that instigated (caused) these events throughout all the colonies. These general factors have been identified and discussed
in class. They include:
 discontent of the Creole class
 the monarchy / Mother Country’s weak political and military control of its colonies in Latin America
 mercantilist restrictions on economic expansion / taxes
 racial and class antagonisms / tensions
 Napoleon’s conquest of Europe and invasion of Spain
 influence of Enlightenment ideas
 inspiration of the American, French and Haitian Revolutions
Despite the many reasons for discontent, Spanish colonists found their opportunity (“dramatic act”) for rebellion when
Napoleon invaded and conquered Spain – turmoil in the motherland provided the perfect excuse to revolt without being
accused of treason. Even though the specific events of each nation’s revolution were a direct result of its particular
circumstances, these broad factors were universal to all Latin American movements for independence / rebellions.
When the Congress of Vienna restored the “legitimate” monarchs, the King of Spain expected the Latin American
colonies to “come back to the fold” of Spanish rule. The colonies refused to do so, and continued fighting for
independence. By 1825, most of Latin America was independent from Spain.
Essential Research Question:
To what extent was ____(insert your country here)___ able to successfully implement Enlightenment ideas
by the end of the 19th century (1899 / 1900)?
Task:
Write a 4 to 5 page paper that coherently and cohesively answers the Essential Research Question listed above.
Factual Questions to investigate: these research questions will help you to gain a full understanding of and
answer to the research task
1. What political, economic and social ideas and/or goals most influenced your country’s movement for
independence? (think about what was wrong with colonial society and what the “rebels” wanted. Did all
classes want the same thing?)
2. Once independence was achieved, were the differences between these classes reconciled (solved /
addressed)? Why or why not? Did new conflicts emerge?
3. Was your country able to address the problems of colonial government, economy & society? (the goals
from question 1) Why or why not?
You must answer each of these questions in order to fully address the Essential Research Question
COUNTRIES: Choose ONE (assigned in class)
Venezuela (Gran Colombia)
Colombia (Gran Colombia)
Chile
Brazil
Mexico
Argentina
Haiti
Nicaragua
DEADLINES:
1. RESEARCH SHEETS, AND ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY – 50 POINTS
DUE: Mon., Nov. 25th (all classes)
2. PRELIMINARY THESIS / TOPIC SENTENCE OUTLINE WITH IN-TEXT CITATIONS -- 50
POINTS
DUE: __MON., DEC. 2 (all classes)
3. FINAL PAPER WITH CITATIONS / ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY – 100 PTS.
DUE: MON., DEC. 16 (all classes)
GUIDELINES / REQUIREMENTS:
• 4 to 5 pages, not including the Annotated Bibliography
• Times New Roman font. Size 10, 11 OR 12. 1 inch margins. Double spaced.
• No title page, but Title on the Top of the first page. Name at the beginning of the paper.
• Research: You must research at least 3 – 4 sources
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DIGITAL: You MUST use ONLY databases / websites via the SHSL webpage
PRINTED: a book (non-reference) IS A REQUIREMENT; Reference (encyclopedia)
PRIMARY: Constitution, speech, letter, newspaper from the period, etc.) (digital or print)
SECONDARY: May include reference book, book, academic article, etc. (digital or print)
You must submit Annotations for each of your sources. The annotations should be written in short
paragraph form and should address the following questions:
• How did I find this source?
• For what research questions was the source useful?
• How did the information help in my analysis / research task?
• The annotation should be no less than 3 - 4 sentences.
You must provide in-text citations in your outline and final draft
The in-text citations will come from your research sheets.
CONTINUE ON TO NEXT PAGE – PLEASE MAKE SURE TO PRINT SEVERAL RESEARCH SHEETS
AND HAVE THEM WITH YOU WHEN YOU COME TO THE LIBRARY. Use the Research Sheet provided.
Please note that these Research Notes are the “note cards” for this research paper assignment.
RESEARCH SHEET
RESEARCH QUESTION:
SOURCE: PRIMARY / SECONDARY (Circle One)
Citation:
PRINT / DIGITAL (Circle One)
ANNOTATION:
How did I find this source? What type of information does it provide? How did it help me in writing my paper (what did
it help me to understand?)
NOTES FROM SOURCE:
PAGES: _______________
SUMMARY: MAIN IDEA OF NOTES/INFORMATION
ANALYSIS: EXPLAIN IN YOUR OWN WORDS HOW THIS INFORMATION ANSWERS THE RESEARCH QUESTION AND HOW IT
HELPS YOU UNDERSTAND AND ANSWER THE CENTRAL RESEARCH QUESTION