Independence Movements Central America and South America
Haiti - 1799 Toussaint-Louverture French Revolution was happening First successful uprising in Latin America 500,000/560,000 were enslaved Minority French planters used brutal punishment to maintain control
Haiti 1790’s led by Francois Toussaint-Louverture a former slave Set fire to plantation homes and crops Yellow fever killed French troops in 1803 1804 Haiti declared independence
Situation in Europe 1808 – Napoleon (France) attacked/seized control of Spain. This left the colonies without a strong central gov’t.
Spanish South America Simon Bolivar – Creole from Venezuela “The Liberator” Believed in equality and independence “the only object worth a mans life” 1810 – Started a revolt in Caracas After nine years of fighting he defeated the Spanish
1819 Bolivar won the Independence of “Grand Colombia”: Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, & Ecuador
Mexico First Spanish colony to rebel Sept. 16, 1810 Miguel Hidalgo – Catholic priest Wanted political freedom, end slavery and improve conditions for the poor. Led Native Americans and Mestizos on a march to Mexico City – he is executed Independence took over ten years to achieve
Jose de San Martin Creole from Argentina 1812-1816 fights Spanish 1816 frees Argentina 1818 freed Chile 1820 frees Peru 1822 meets with Bolivar & free the rest of S. America by 1826
Brazil Unique Independence
How? Peaceful process, no bloodshed Portuguese royal family fled to Brazil when Napoleon invaded in 1808. King Joao transferred the monarchy to Rio de Janeiro.
Reforms Favorable trade laws, opening ports to the world Improve mining and agricultural production More funding for public education
Conflict King Joao returned to Portugal in 1815 after Napoleon was defeated in Europe. Dom Pedro, his son, remained in Brazil. 1822 called for a constitutional convention Won independence for Brazil Became constitutional Emperor Pedro I