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.
However successful the revolutions may have been in achieving political independence from their mother
countries, the level of interest in and commitment to establishing “enlightened” governments and societies varied from
region to region, and leader to leader.
Essential Research Question:
To what extent was ____(insert your country here)___ able to successfully implement Enlightenment ideas
by the end of the 19th century?
Task:
Write a 4 to 5 page paper that coherently and cohesively answers the research question
Research Questions: these research questions will help you to gain a full understanding of the research task
1. What Enlightenment ideas most influenced your country’s movement for independence? (think about
what was wrong with colonial society and what the “rebels” wanted) Were Enlightenment ideas
foremost or were there other more important factors that caused the colonial subjects to revolt?
2. What were the differing socio-political factions in your country? (different socio-political groups)
3. What were the goals (for each of these factions or in general) for your country’s independence
movement? (Why did the people want to break away from Spain?)
4. Once independence was achieved, were the differences between these factions reconciled?
5. What internal factors (social, political and economic) most influenced your country’s development in the
19th century AFTER independence?
6. What external factors (social, political and economic) most influenced your country’s development in
the 19th century AFTER independence?
7. What role did these internal and external factors play in determining how successfully Enlightenment
ideas were implemented by the end of the 19th century in your country?
8. Were these countries able to address the problems of colonial government, economy & society? (the
problems from question # 3)
You must answer each of these questions in order to fully address the Essential Research Question
CONTINUE TO NEXT PAGE
COUNTRIES: Choose ONE (assigned in class)
Venezuela (Gran Colombia)
Colombia (Gran Colombia)
Peru (Gran Colombia)
Bolivia (Gran Colombia)
Ecuador (Gran Colombia)
Nicaragua (Central American Republics)
El Salvador (Central American Republics)
Paraguay
Mexico
Argentina
Chile
Brazil
Uruguay
Guatemala (Central American Republics)
Honduras (Central American Republics)
DEADLINES:
1. RESEARCH SHEETS, OUTLINE (WITH IN-TEXT CITATIONS) AND ANNOTATED
BIBLIOGRAPHY –
150 POINTS -- DUE: TUES., DEC. 11TH – (DUE AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS)
2. FINAL PAPER WITH CITATIONS / ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY –
100 PTS. – DUE__TUES., JAN. 8, 2013 – (DUE AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS)
GUIDELINES / REQUIREMENTS:
• 4 to 5 pages, not including the Annotated Bibliography
• Times New Roman font. Size 12. 1 inch margins. Double spaced.
• No title page. No title. Name at the beginning of the paper.
• Research: You must research at least 5 sources, of which AT LEAST ONE must be:
 DIGITAL: You MUST use ONLY databases / websites via the SHSL webpage
 PRINTED: a book (non-reference)
 PRIMARY: Constitution, speech, letter, newspaper from the period, etc.)
 SECONDARY: May include reference book, book, academic article, etc.
You must submit Annotations for each of your sources. The annotations should be written in 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 that you
prefer – 1 or 2.
RESEARCH SHEET(S) 1 – for more than one source
Topic / Research Question
Information (Notes)
Analysis
Source: In-Text Citation
(pg. no.)_________ and
Annotation information
RESEARCH SHEET 2 – for one source
RESEARCH QUESTION:
SOURCE: PRIMARY / SECONDARY (Circle One)
Citation:
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