Latin American
Independence
Colonial Society Divided
 Six classes of people existed in Latin
America society:

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



Peninsulares – born in Spain (at the top)
Creoles – Spaniards born in Latin America
Mestizos – Mixed European / Indian ancestry
Mulattos – Mixed European / African ancestry
Africans
Indians (at the bottom)
Mestizo: Spanish/Indian
Your Turn! Discuss…
How is this division of
social classes and
hierarchy similar to that
in the Old Regime in
France? How was it
different?
Revolutions in the
Americas
 Where in Latin America was independence
first declared? (open books to p. 251)
 Early 1800s: French colony of Saint Domingue
was the first Latin American colony to fight for
independence.
 Almost all of the people who lived in the French
colony were slaves of African origin
 In 1791, about 100,000 of them rose in revolt.
Toussaint L’Ouverture, a former slave, was their
leader.
Toussaint L’Ouverture
 In 1802 Napoleon
sent troops to the
island to end the
rebellion but
FAILED!!
 In 1804, the
colony declared
its independence
as Haiti
(Which means
“mountainous
land” to Arawak
natives).
 This was the first
black colony to
free itself from
European control
(inspired colonies
in Africa to later
become free…).
Your Turn! Discuss…
What Enlightenment
ideas was this revolution
referencing?
Creoles Lead Independence
 Why did Creoles want independence?
 Creoles felt that they were not treated fairly.
 Feeling got stronger when Napoleon overthrew the
king of Spain and named his own brother as king.
 Creoles in Latin America had no loyalty to the new
king.
 REVOLT!!!
 Even after the old king was restored, they did not
give up their fight for freedom.
Your Turn! Discuss…
What other Revolution in the
world started when people felt
disconnected from their
colonizers?
What was the major issue
there?
Creoles Lead Independence
 Two leaders push much of South
America to independence:
Simon Bolivar
Jose de San Martin
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
Simón
Writer
Fighter
Political thinker
Survived defeats and
exile to help win
independence for
Venezuela in 1821.
Bolívar
José de San Martín
 Helped win
independence for
Argentina in 1816 and
Chile in 1818.
 Led Argentinean AND
Chilean armies to gain
independence for ALL
Spanish colonies.
Miguel Hidalgo
In 1807, French forces occupied Spain and
imprisoned King Ferdinand VII. Confusion
spread in Mexico. Some creoles plotted to
seize the colony's government. One of these
men was Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a priest.
Late on the night of Sept. 15, 1810, he called
Indians and mestizos to his church in the town
of Dolores. He made a speech known as the
Grito de Dolores (Cry of Dolores), in which he
called for a rebellion so that Mexicans could
govern Mexico. Today, late on September 15,
Mexico's president rings a bell and repeats the
Grito de Dolores. Mexicans celebrate
September 16 as Independence Day.
Hidalgo's untrained followers armed
themselves and attacked Spanish officials and
those who supported the Spaniards. At first,
Hidalgo gained support for his cause. But
most of his followers were Indians and
mestizos, and not creoles. Some Indian
communities also refused to support Hidalgo
because of the violent ways of the rebels.
Hidalgo was forced to retreat. In 1811,
Spanish troops captured and executed him
Mexico Ends Spanish Rule
 How did Mexico achieve independence?
 In Mexico: Mestizos and Indians lead the fight
 1810: Miguel Hidalgo, a village priest, called for a
revolt against Spanish rule.
 Creoles united with Spanish government to put
down this revolt by the lower classes.
 Hidalgo lost
 Jose Maria
Morelos took
over leadership
of the rebels.
Jose Maria Morelos y Pavon, another
priest, continued Hidalgo's struggle. In
1813, Morelos held a Congress that issued
the first formal call for independence. The
Congress wrote a constitution for a
Mexican republic. Morelos hoped to attract
the creoles who wanted reform. He
succeeded further than Hidalgo. In 1815,
however, Morelos too was captured and
executed by the Spaniards.
By 1816, Spanish troops had captured or
killed almost all of the rebels. Mexico was
again at peace, and King Ferdinand VII
had returned to the Spanish throne. But
the king did not realize that most creoles
supported him, and that they still only
wanted reform. Instead, the king thought
that all Mexicans were traitors to Spain.
Ferdinand taxed the creoles and organized
a large army to put down any revolutionary
movement. His actions convinced many
creoles that they no longer could trust
Spain.
In 1820, a revolt by liberals swept Spain.
Ferdinand's power weakened, and many
creoles saw their chance for revolution.
Liberal and Conservative creoles joined
sides. Only a small part of the Spanish
forces in Mexico remained loyal to Spain.
Mexico Ends Spanish Rule
• By the end of 1821, the last Spanish officials
withdrew from Mexico, and Mexico became
independent.
 Creoles joined other groups fighting for
independence.
 1823: Central America separated itself
from Mexico.
Your Turn! Discuss…
Which classes of people
revolted and wanted to
change the government?
Where have we seen this
before? Why?
Brazil’s Royal Liberator
Prince Pedro I
Brazil’s Royal Liberator
 In Brazil, 8,000 creoles signed a paper
asking the son of Portugal’s king to rule
an independent Brazil.
 He agreed!
 Brazil became free in 1822 through a
BLOODLESS revolt.