Latin American Revolutions

The Colonial System in Latin America 7a

Colonial Latin America, 1790 By the 19th century (the 1800s), much of Latin America had been colonized by European powers. Some of the colonized locations included the Spanish colonies of Mexico, Colombia, and Venezuela, the French colony of Haiti, and the Portuguese colony of Brazil.

This European colonization of Latin America had a significant impact on native populations. For example, Spanish conquests in Latin America saw the rapid decline of native populations and introductions of slaves from Africa.

Latin American Governments One characteristic of the colonial system in Latin America was colonial governments mirroring the home governments of the colonizing countries.

Conquistador = Viceroy One example of a colonial government mirroring the home government existed in Spanish colonies. Spanish conquistadors were given governmental authority by the crown, becoming known as viceroys.

Viceroys (conquistadors) & colonial officers called Peninsulares (men born in Spain) Further, only men who had been born in Spain could serve as colonial officers; these men made of the top portion of the rigid class system in Spanish colonies.

Viceroys (conquistadors) & colonial officers called Peninsulares (men born in Spain) Creoles (Spaniards born in Latin America) Second from the top in the rigid class system were creoles – Spaniards born in Latin America; while creoles could not hold high political office, they could serve as officers in Spanish colonial armies.

Viceroys (conquistadors) & colonial officers (men born in Spain) Creoles (Spaniards born in Latin America) Mestizos (people of mixed Spanish and Native American ancestry) Third from the top were the mestizos – people of mixed Spanish and Native American ancestry.

Viceroys (conquistadors) & colonial officers (men born in Spain) Creoles (Spaniards born in Latin America) Mestizos (people of mixed Spanish and Native American ancestry) Mulattos (people of mixed Spanish and African ancestry) Native Americans African Slaves Below them were the mulattos (people of mixed Spanish and African ancestry) and then the Native Americans. At the very bottom of the rigid class system were the African slaves. There was left a legacy of dictatorial rule and rigid class system in Latin America.

Colonial Latin America, 1790 Catholicism also had a strong influence on the development of the colonies. Spain, France, and Portugal were all strongly Catholic nations.

Mercantilism = colonies exist to benefit the mother country gold silver Colonizing countries all practiced mercantilism. Mercantilism was an economic practice adopted by European colonial powers in an effort to become self-sufficient. Mercantilism is based on the theory that colonies existed for the benefit of the mother country. To this end, a major element of the economy was the mining of precious metals for export.

Numerous major cities were established as outposts of colonial authority. These cities included the Spanish colonial cities of Havana (in present-day Cuba), Mexico City (in present-day Mexico), Lima (in present-day Peru), and Buenos Aires (in present-day Argentina), as well as the Portuguese colonial city of Sao Paulo (in present-day Brazil).

Numerous major cities were established as outposts of colonial authority. These cities included the Spanish colonial cities of Havana (in present-day Cuba), Mexico City (in present-day Mexico), Lima (in present-day Peru), and Buenos Aires (in present-day Argentina), as well as the Portuguese colonial city of Sao Paulo (in present-day Brazil).

Numerous major cities were established as outposts of colonial authority. These cities included the Spanish colonial cities of Havana (in present-day Cuba), Mexico City (in present-day Mexico), Lima (in present-day Peru), and Buenos Aires (in present-day Argentina), as well as the Portuguese colonial city of Sao Paulo (in present-day Brazil).

Numerous major cities were established as outposts of colonial authority. These cities included the Spanish colonial cities of Havana (in present-day Cuba), Mexico City (in present-day Mexico), Lima (in present-day Peru), and Buenos Aires (in present-day Argentina), as well as the Portuguese colonial city of Sao Paulo (in present-day Brazil).

Numerous major cities were established as outposts of colonial authority. These cities included the Spanish colonial cities of Havana (in present-day Cuba), Mexico City (in present-day Mexico), Lima (in present-day Peru), and Buenos Aires (in present-day Argentina), as well as the Portuguese colonial city of Sao Paulo (in present-day Brazil).

Revolutionary Ideas Spread

American Revolution (1775 – 1783) French Revolution (1789 – 1799) The American and French Revolutions took place in the late 1700s. The idea of revolution spread to locations in Latin America living under colonial rule. Within 20 years, the ideas and examples of these revolutions influenced the people of Latin America to establish independent nations, most notably in Haiti and Mexico.

Colonial Latin America, 1790 Ultimately, independence came to French, Spanish, and Portuguese colonies in Latin America.

The Haitain Revolution

The French colony of Haiti (it was known as Saint Domingue at the time) was the first territory in Latin America to break away from European rule, winning independence in 1804.

African slaves were at the bottom of the social system in Haiti African slaves were at the bottom of the social system in Haiti. Nearly half a million slaves worked in Haiti on sugar plantations. Beginning in 1791, slaves in Haiti rebelled.

Toussaint L’Ouverture wanted to see slavery end in Haiti Toussaint L’Ouverture wanted to see slavery end in Haiti. To this end, he fought with the French against the British and Spanish, helping drive both out of Haiti. L’Ouverture rose to a position of power and led to the slaves abolishing slavery. The French, however, had no intention of ending slavery in Haiti. Toussaint L’Ouverture, a former slave, led Haitian rebellion against the French.

L’Ouverture ended up spending his final years of life in a French prison; however, his followers continued the fight for Haitian independence. After a long, difficult struggle, the slaves won independence from France.

While he did not act alone, Toussaint L’Ouverture defeated the armies of three foreign powers: Britain, Spain, and France.

The Mexican Revolution

Mexico won its independence from Spain in 1821, 11 years after Father Miguel Hidalgo started the Mexican independence movement.

Mestizos (people of mixed Spanish and Native American ancestry) in Mexico led the revolution movement there. They were led by Hidalgo on a march consisting of 80,000 men toward Mexico City.

Hidalgo was defeated by the Spanish army and creoles who had joined with the army to oppose Hidalgo. However, creoles later changed sides and helped Mexico win its independence.

Other Latin American Revolutions

Between the revolution movements in Haiti and Mexico, revolution movements began in South America.

In South America, Simon Bolivar was a native-born resident who led revolutionary efforts. A creole, Bolivar led his native Venezuela to independence in 1821.

Simon Bolivar liberated the northern areas of Latin America from Spanish rule, leading wars of independence in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, and Peru, in addition to Venezuela.

DEMOCRACY While Bolivar did not free all of Latin America from European control, he did help lay the foundation of democratic ideology throughout much of Latin America.

The Monroe Doctrine 7d

Mind your own business! After the American Revolution, the United States wished to prevent foreign interference in America. This meant the United States wanted the European countries to stay out of affairs involving both North and South America.

Monroe Doctrine James Monroe, who was the fifth president of the United States, served two terms in that office from 1817 to 1825. During that time, Monroe issued the Monroe Doctrine – a proclamation for which he is best remembered.

Monroe Doctrine Stay away!!! The Monroe Doctrine was issued in 1823 and alerted European powers that the American continents should not be considered for any future colonization.

Monroe Doctrine Stay away!!! Or else!!! In part, the Monroe Doctrine stated that the United States would regard as a threat to its own peace and safety any attempt by European powers to impose their system on any independent state in the Western Hemisphere.

Our Latin American neighbors are hereby recognized as independent! Monroe Doctrine Our Latin American neighbors are hereby recognized as independent! The Monroe Doctrine also acknowledged Latin American nations to be independent.

Monroe Doctrine The Monroe Doctrine impacted revolutions in Latin America by lending credibility to the governments established after independence was declared in those places, and by helping decrease the likelihood European powers would again challenge the sovereignty of nations in Latin America.