Latin American Peoples Win
Independence
European Empires: 1660s
Latin American Revolutions!
16c-18c:
New Ideas Brewing in Europe
Early Struggles in Latin America
The Enlightenment and the American and French revolutions
inspired some in Latin America to seek greater freedom.
Revolution in Haiti (1791-1804)
Toussaint L’Ouverture
• Saint Domingue (of Caribbean
island Hispaniola) was the first
Latin American territory to
break ties with Europe
• Former slave Toussaint
L’Ouverture led revolt
against French masters
• By 1801 he freed all
enslaved Africans
• In 1802, French troops
imprisoned L’Ouverture
• Jean-Jacques Dessaline
declared Haiti an
independent country in 1804
• Had been one of France’s
richest possessions
• Prosperity built on slave labor
in which masters use brutal
methods
• French Revolution had
dramatic effect on island
Latin America Socially Divided
Social class, based on race & ethnicity,
dictated people’s place in society
At top of society were peninsulares = born in Spain
- Tiny % of popul., could hold high gov’t office
Second to the top were the creoles = Spaniards born in Latin
America
- No high gov’t office, but could rise as officers in army
Third were the mestizos = persons of mixed European and Indian
ancestry
Fourth were the mulattos = persons of mixed European and
African ancestry
- Also included African slaves
Indians were at the bottom of the social ladder
Revolutions in Venezuela,
Ecuador, & Peru
• 1811-1822
• Creoles were least oppressed, but
best educated
– Learned of Enlightenment ideas &
Revolutions
• Creoles felt no loyalty to French
king (Napoleon)
– When king deposed, power should
shift to the people (Locke)
Creoles Lead Independence
 Simón Bolivar
 Wealthy Venezuelan creole
 Spent time in Europe and the
newly-independent United States
 Called “Libertador” (liberator)
 Led volunteer army of
revolutionaries in struggle for
independence
 Won Venezuela’s independence in
1821
Creoles Lead Independence
 José de San Martin
 Argentinian military officer
 Won Argentina’s independence in
1816
 Led army against Spanish forces to
free Chile
 Partnered with Bolivar to drive
Spanish forces out of Peru
 Decisive victory at Battle of
Ayacucho in 1824
 Future countries of Venezuela,
Colombia, Panama, & Ecuador united
into Gran Colombia
Simón Bolivar Meets José de
San Martin
Bolivar & San Martin Fight
for Independence!
Mexico Ends Spanish Rule
• 1810-1821
• Ethnic & racial groups mixed freely
– Indians & mestizos led revolution
• Padre Miguel Hidalgo, priest of village of
Dolores, called for rebellion against the
Spanish in 1811
– grito de Dolores (cry of Dolores)
– Defeated by Spanish army & creoles in Mexico
city
• Padre José María Morelos led revolution
for four more years but was defeated in
1815
Mexico Ends Spanish Rule
• Turning point in 1820 when revolution in
Spain put liberal group in power
• Mexico’s creoles united in support of
Mexico’s independence from
Spain
• Agustín de Iturbide (who
had defeated Morelos),
proclaimed Mexico’s
independence in 1821
However…
• Before the Mexican revolution, Central
America was part of New Spain
– Declared independence from New Spain and
from Mexico as well
• Iturbide refused to recognize this
independence, but was overthrown in 1823
• Central America declared its absolute
independence from Mexico and became
known as the United Provinces of Central
America
– Future countries of Nicaragua, Guatemala,
Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica
Brazil’s Royal Liberator
Flag of the Empire
of Brazil, 18221889
• Independence occurred w/o violence or bloodshed
• When Napoleon’s army approached Portugal, the prince and royal
family escaped to Rio de Janiero in Brazil
• After Napoleon’s defeat, the royal family went back to Portugal
except for Dom Pedro, who stayed in Brazil
• In 1822, Brazilians demanded independence from Portugal and
petitioned for Dom Pedro to rule Brazil
• Sept. 7, 1822 – Dom Pedro declared Brazil’s independence
Pedro de Alcântara Francisco António João Carlos Xavier de Paula Miguel Rafael
Joaquim José Gonzaga Pascoal Cipriano Serafim de Bragança e Bourbon
Latin
American
States
After the
Revolutions