Latin American Revolutions
Ms. Hunt
Unit 3
RMS IB 2014-2015
Revolutions in
Latin America
1791-1825
- Between 1803 and
1825 a series of
revolutions would
sweep through Latin
America.
- Result- Spain to lose
almost all colonies
and completely drive
the Spanish out of
the New World
Revolutions in Latin America
Causes of Revolutions
People in the Spanish colonies in
the Western Hemisphere did
not like the way Spain ruled
them. They wanted to become
independent from Spain.
1) Inspired by the successful
revolutions in America and
France.
2) Spanish mercantilist policy
- required that the colonies had
to buy manufactured goods
only from Spain and sell
colonial exports only to Spain.
- Result- drained the colonies of
the wealth that went to Spain
3)
Unequal distribution of
wealth and power among
Latin Americans.
- Remember the Encomienda System!
- Peninsulares or people born in Spain,
controlled all the important political and
military positions.
- Creoles, people born in the colonies of
Spanish parents, tended to be the wealthy
landowners, mine owners, and business
owners.
- Mestizos, children of Spanish and Indians
parents usually worked in towns or as
overseers on the big estates.
- Indians, blacks, and Mulattos, or people of
mixed African and European descent,
worked on the great farms and in the mines.
They did not own land and lived in complete
poverty. They had no chance to hold power.
The Beginning of Revolutions Against
Spain
• 1808 – The French army under
the leadership of Napoleon
Bonaparte conquered Spain.
– Napoleon’s brother becomes
King of Spain.
• Latin American colonists, led
by the Creoles refuse to accept
French rule and revolt.
• Spanish king is put back on the
throne in 1814, the
revolutions continue.
– The colonists refuse to return
to the old ways. They want
independence.
REFLECTION
The Creoles were the
wealthiest and best educated
Spanish colonists. They had more
privileges and a much better life
than any other colonial group.
Why would they have the
strongest desire for revolution?
Revolution in Haiti
• Saint-Domingue - French plantation
colony in the Caribbean on the island
of Hispaniola.
• Population - Slaves, free blacks, and
mulattos, people of mixed European
and African ancestry
•
– did not have the same rights as the
minority white population
1791 the people revolted against the
French colonists.
• Toussaint L’Ouverture - leader of the
rebels in 1801 and defeated the
French
• Declared their independence from
France in 1804
– Result- Creation of the nation of
Haiti
Revolution in Mexico
• 810 – A village priest,
Miguel Hidalgo led Indians
in an uprising against
Spanish rule.
– Hidalgo and his rebels killed
both Peninsulare and Criollo
men, women, and children.
– They were defeated in
January 1811.
• Hidalgo was executed by
firing squad, but the
revolution in Mexico
continued
Revolution in Mexico Continued
•
Jose Maria Morelos – a priest who had
trained under Hidalgo
– joined the revolution in 1811
– A true man of the people, charismatic and
devout.
– Constructive vision and belief in a better
tomorrow with equality for all Mexicans.
•
•
He became the leader of the revolution
after the death of Hidalgo
Fought for:
– independence from Spain
– equal rights for all Mexicans
– continued privilege of the Catholic Church in
Mexican affairs.
•
•
Used guerilla military tactics
He was defeated and captured by Spanish
forces in 1814 and executed.
Special Note- A true man of the people,
Morelos is greatly honored today in
Mexico. The State of Morelos and City of
Morelia are named after him, as are a
major stadium, and countless streets and
parks. He has appeared on several bills and
coins over Mexico's history has
End of the Mexican Revolution
• After the death of
Morelos, the
independence movement
continued in Mexico.
• 1821 – Creole soldiers
overthrow the royalist
Spanish government and
declared a constitutional
monarchy.
• 1824 – Mexico declares
itself a republic.
Revolution in Venezuela
•
1808-1811 - lead by Simon Bolivar.
–
–
–
•
•
1812 – Spanish forces retake Venezuela and
Bolivar flees to Columbia.
Between 1819 and 1825, Bolivar successfully
led revolutions to drive the Spanish from:
–
–
–
–
•
Bolivar is a wealthy Venezuelan aristocrat, educated
in Europe.
Heavily influenced by the ideas of the enlightenment.
Referred to as El Libertador
Columbia
Venezuela
Ecuador
southern Peru- where he established the nation of
Bolivia.
Bolivar had hoped to unite all the Latin
American countries in a republic like that of
the United States of America
–
Was unsuccessful, leading to years of political
instability across South America
Revolutions in Argentina, Chile, and
Peru
1810 – 1818 - Argentina fights for its
independence from Spain.
Military leader- Jose de San Martin.
- Criollo officer who had
- Served in the Spanish army during
the wars against Napoleon
- Heavily influenced by the ideas of
the enlightenment.
1818 – San Martin leads his army over
the Andes and drives the Spanish
from Chile.
- Led his troops by sea to Peru, freeing
northern Peru from Spanish rule in
1822.
Revolution in
Brazil
Prince Pedro declares Brazil independent
from Portugal in Sao Paulo on September
7, 1822.
1807 – The Portuguese King,
fleeing Napoleon’s invading
French army flees with his
court to Brazil.
- He rules Portugal in exile
from Brazil.
• During this period, Brazil
becomes stronger than the
mother country Portugal.
• 1821 – The King returns to
Portugal leaving his son Don
Pedro in charge of Brazil.
• 1822 – In a peaceful
revolution, he declares
himself Don Pedro I, Emperor
of an independent Brazil.
Turn and Talk
Answer the following in complete sentences.
1. How did the European wars of Napoleon
Bonaparte have an influence on the
Spanish and Portuguese colonies in the
New World?
2. How did the ideas of the enlightenment
and the American and French Revolutions
influence the people of Latin America?
Latin American Revolutions Graphic
Organizer
• Required Materials- Graphic Organizer,
coloring and writing utensils
• Complete the graphic organizer as outlined on
your worksheet.
• Be sure to be colorful, correct and creative!
• Gluing directions:
– Guided Notes- Latin American Revolutions
– Latin American Revolutions Graphic Organizer