Latin America: European Conquest and Independence Unit Seven Notes Name: __________________

Spain vs. Portugal Christopher Columbus asks both countries to sponsor his voyage…Spain agrees Countries become rivals and tried to stop each other from claiming land in the Americas Treaty – an agreement in writing made between two or more countries In 1494, signed Treaty of Tordesillas, which set the Line of Demarcation (imaginary line from the North Pole to the South Pole at 50 degrees longitude) Spain got everything to the west and Portugal got everything to the east WHO GOT THE BETTER END OF THE DEAL?

Spanish Conquistadors Conquerors who settled in the Americas in hope of finding treasure. If he found treasure, Spain got 1/5 of it. If he failed, he lost his own fortune. If he succeeded, he and Spain gained wealth and fame.

Hernan Cortes Spanish soldier who reached Mexico in 1519 in search of treasure He was mistaken for a god, Quetzalcoatl, because the Aztec had never seen horses before, and thought he and his army were supernatural Cortes tried to get Moctezuma, the Aztec ruler, to surrender to Spain Cortes conquered the Aztec at Tenochtitlan, with help of their enemies, in 1521 Cortes was successful because he had help from Malinche, the daughter of a Mayan leader

Francisco Pizarro Spanish conquistador who captured and killed the Incan emperor and leaders By 1535, he had conquered most of the Incan empire

Spanish had guns and cannons, rode horses How were the conquistadors able to defeat the two most powerful empires in the Americas? Spanish had guns and cannons, rode horses Europeans carried diseases such as smallpox, measles, and chicken pox. These diseases wiped out entire villages. Some Native Americans helped the conquistadors By 1540’s, Spain claimed most of the Americas, and Portugal claimed Brazil.

Spain Organizes Its Empire Divided empire into provinces Two most important provinces were New Spain (Mexico City) and Peru (Lima) Mestizo – person of mixed Spanish and Native American decent Mulatto—person of mixed African and European ancestry Hacienda – plantation owned by Spaniards or the Catholic Church (Native Americans were forced to work on them) Encomiendas – right to demand taxes or labor from Native Americans

Effect of European Rule on Native Americans Least powerful class Forced to work on haciendas for settlers Also worked in mines after silver was discovered Died from overwork and malnutrition or diseases Population in L.A. decreased from 25 million in 1519 to less than 2 million in the late 1500s

Independence in Mexico Revolution – political movement where people overthrow the government and set up another Criollo – had Spanish parents, but were born in Latin America Only people born in Spain could hold political office

Miguel Hidalgo Began struggle for independence in 1810 Criollo priest in Dolores Spanish government discovered his plan, but he acted before they arrested him Rang church bells..”Cry of Dolores” Army made up of mestizos and Native Americans Won a few battles, but in full retreat by 1811 Hidalgo tried to flee, but was captured, tried, and convicted of treason He was executed in July 1811

Miguel Hidalgo Mexico won its independence from Spain in 1821 Mexico celebrates Sept. 16 as Independence Day; president rings a bell in Mexico City and repeats the “cry of Dolores”

Agustin de Iturbide High ranking officer in Spanish army Joined rebels fighting for Mexican independence People opposing rebellion changed their minds because they trusted him In 1821, he declared Mexico independent

South American Independence

Simon Bolivar – “The Liberator” Greatest Latin American revolutionary leader From a wealthy Venezuelan family Joined fight for Venezuelan independence in 1804…six years later became the leader 1822 –freed Gran Colombia: future Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Panama Became president of Gran Colombia Eventually drove remaining forces out of South America after meeting with San Martin and fighting alone Hoped to unite South America as one country, but did not…retired from politics Set standard for LA leaders

Simon Bolivar became dictator of Peru in 1824 Upper Peru became a separate state; named Boliva in Bolivar’s honor (1825) narrowly escaped assassination; resigned as president of Colombia in 1830 died Dec. 17, 1830

Jose de San Martin From Argentina, but served in the Spanish army for 22 years helped defend Spain against invading French forces of Napoleon from 1808 to 1811 resigned his commission and went to join Argentina’s struggle for independence

Jose de San Martin Loved by his troops for suffering along with them Defeated Spain in 1817 when he took his troops through the Andes into Chile Declared Chile’s independence Took Peru from Spain in surprise attack by sea

Toussaint L’ouverture 1791 – slave revolt; Toussaint became one of its leaders led a black army against France, helping France to abolish slavery in Saint-Domingue (now Haiti) By 1796, ruled the colony with the consent of its French governor 1802 - Toussaint resisted Napoleon’s large army and began a revolution to free the colony from French control later that year, captured; imprisoned in France; died on April 7, 1803

Brazilian Independence from Portugal In the early 1800s, French armies invaded Portugal, and the royal family fled to Brazil for safety. The king returned to Portugal in 1821, but his son, Dom Pedro, stayed to rule. Pedro declared Brazil independent in 1822. Portugal accepted Brazil’s independence in 1825.