Revolution in Latin America 1810-1822

Colonization of Latin America The Spaniards built colonies in the Americas from about 1500 to 1800 They controlled areas of Mexico, Central America, and South America The Portuguese settled in parts of South America (Brazil)

The Spanish (yellow) and Portuguese (purple) colonial empires The Spanish (yellow) and Portuguese (purple) colonial empires. (Prior to the 1800s)

Latin America circa 1800

Social Structure in Latin American Colonies Wealthy Spaniards in Latin America lived on haciendas– large cattle ranches/farms The Spaniards forced the natives to work for them and also used enslaved Africans Spaniards did not adopt native customs

Creoles Creoles= people of Spanish blood who were born and raised in Latin America Many creoles resented the attitudes of Spanish-born people Creoles played a large part in Latin America’s fight for independence

Mixed Races Mestizo = Spanish (white) and Indian Some Spaniards fathered the children of native women and enslaved African women creating new mixed races with lower social standing Mestizo = Spanish (white) and Indian Mulattos = Spanish (white) and African

Social Classes in Colonial Latin America

Encomienda System Established in response to the colonists' need for Indian labor, but became the most destructive system in the history of Spanish America Spaniards received a portion of land and property rights over a certain number of Indians  Spaniards were expected to teach their natives Spanish and Catholicism

Dates of Independence Mexico Brazil Haiti Venezuela Colombia Ecuador Peru Bolivia Chile

French Empire

The Colony of Haiti Haiti covers the western portion of the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean Sea Haiti was the 1st Latin American colony to fight for independence Haiti was a French colony 1791 enslaved people rebelled against their French masters

Haiti Gains its Independence A black revolutionary names Toussaint L’Ouverture became a leader in Haiti’s fight for freedom He was an enslaved person until 50 L’Ouverture led the revolt until 1793 when France freed all enslaved people 1801- Napoleon sent his army to Haiti to reestablish slavery and imprisoned L’ouverture 1804- The French army was defeated an French rule of Haiti ended

Haitian Revolution

Source: “Revenge Taken by the Black Army” 1805 Sketch by Marcus Rainsford in “An Historical Account of the Black Empire of Hayti” showing actions taken against the French in Saint Domingue’s war for independence from France and slavery.

Source: Mark Almond, 20th century historian Revolution 500 Years of struggle for Change p. 85 “ In May 1802, Napoleon’s forces tried to re-establish slavery. To make matters worse, the French Commander kidnapped Toussaint and deported him back to France. The effect was to enrage the black majority and provoke an even greater rebellion. By now black soldiers had gained experience in organizing an army. The French were at a disadvantage” they were more susceptible to disease (particularly yellow fever) than their opponents, and reinforcements were difficult to obtain from France. The French troops were also demoralized by fighting against enemies who sang the Marseillaise and invoked revolutionary ideals. One officer, Lacroix, asked, “Have our barbarous enemies justice on their side? Are we no longer the soldiers of Republican France? And have we become crude instruments of policy?”

Source: PROCLAMATION OF HAITI'S INDEPENDENCE BY THE GENERAL IN CHIEF, Jean Jacques Dessalines to the Haitian people in Gonaives, on January 1st 1804, year first of Haiti's independence Dear Citizens, It is not enough to have expelled from your country the barbarians who have bloodied it for two centuries; it is not enough to have put a brake to these ever reviving factions which take turns to play-act this liberty, like ghost that France had exposed before your eyes; it is necessary, by a last act of national authority, assure forever an empire of liberty in this country our birth place; we must take away from this inhumane government, which held for so long our spirits in the most humiliating torpor, all hope to resubjugate us; we must at last live independent or die. Let us be on guard however so that the spirit of proselytism does not destroy our work; let our neighbors breath in peace, may they live in peace under the empire of the laws that they have legislated themselves, and let us not go, like spark fire revolutionaries, erecting ourselves as legislators of the Caribbean, to make good of our glory by troubling the peace of neighboring islands: they have never, like the one that we live in, been soaked of the innocent blood of their inhabitants; they have no vengeance to exercise against the authority that protects them. Let us swear to the entire universe, to posterity, to ourselves, to renounce forever to France, and to die rather than to live under its domination. To fight until the last crotchet rest for the independence of our country!

Spanish Empire

Father Miguel Hidalgo (1753–1811) Mexico was the first Spanish colony in Latin America to fight for independence Father Hidalgo and Jose Morales (Catholic priests) led Mexico’s army in 1810 Most soldiers were poor natives Mexico won independence in 1821

José de San Martín (1778-1850) Liberator of Argentina, Chile, and Peru Began the fight for independence in Argentina Led his army across the Andes Mountains and fought the Spanish in Chile (1818)

José de San Martín leading his army across the Andes Mountains into Chile

José de San Martín claiming Peru's independence.

Battle of Bailén

Martín helped the following Latin nations gain independence from Spain: -Argentina -Chile -Peru (Martin and Bolivar)

José de San Martín meets with Simón Bolívar to discuss the future of Latin America.

Simón Bolívar (1783-1830) Won independence for Bolivia, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela El Liberator (The Liberator) Liberate= to free The "George Washington of South America” Spent much of his life fighting for the independence of South American nations Came from a wealthy Spanish family spent most of his money backing revolutions because he believed in freedom from European rule

Simón Bolívar 1810 helped organize an army which he led in a series of victories against the Spanish Ruled Republic of Gran Colombia (Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Peru) Became dictator of Peru 1822 Upper Peru became a separate state, named Bolivia in Bolivar's honor, in 1825 1828 Bolivar ruled only Colombia His own people did not appreciate him and he resigned as president of Colombia in 1830

Portuguese Empire 1800

"BY MY BLOOD, BY MY HONOUR, AND BY GOD: I WILL MAKE BRAZIL FREE." Dom Pedro (1798-1834) "BY MY BLOOD, BY MY HONOUR, AND BY GOD: I WILL MAKE BRAZIL FREE."  Founder and first ruler of the Empire of Brazil (1822)

Dom Pedro Portuguese prince Inherited the Brazilian kingdom when it was still under Portuguese rule The Brazilian people wanted independence and they wanted Dom Pedro to go home to Portugal 1822 “I remain!” --Declared Brazil and independent nation and took the throne as Pedro I Led Brazil to independence without bloodshed

What were the Governments of the New Nations Like? Most of the countries did not become democracies Life did not change for many native and mixed people Dictators ruled most of the new nations These dictators were powerful men with armies and any changes in government usually came only by military takeovers