Setting the Stage Success of American Revolution, where the Latin Americans had been living under Spanish rule as colonies since the 1500s Many Latin Americans wanted change in the colonies; especially the social system that they had lived under for over 150 years Over time and interaction, Europeans changed the makeup of Latin America Spaniards born in Spain and came to Latin America were called Peninsulares Europeans born in Latin America - Creoles (Criollos); Children from Europeans/Natives - Mestizos – mixed race (A new breed of people) Children from Europeans/Africans - Mulattos Children from Africans and Natives - Zambos Slaves and children of slaves were often treated better/had more opportunities than Native Americans

Revolution in Haiti Success of American/French Revolutions prompt the Creoles (and some Mestizos) to consider revolution in their countries First country to experience revolution was Haiti Colony owned by France; 500,000 slaves worked plantations (outnumbered their masters significantly Slaves were worked so hard that half would die in a few years; 12 hour work days Routinely whipped, beaten, mutilated etc. as punishment – serve as example French Declaration of the Rights of Man (from the French Revolution) inspired Toussaint L’ Overture, a former slave, to lead a revolution against the French settlers Torched plantations and massacred white French settlers

Revolution in Haiti (Cont.) 1801 – Toussaint took complete control of the island of Haiti 1802 – Under Napoleon’s orders, 30,000 French troops arrive in Haiti to remove Toussaint from power Toussaint used political maneuverings to keep him out of prison for a time until he received notifications to meet with a French official regarding colonial management Arriving at the meeting resulted in Toussaint being captured and taken to France He was imprisoned in the French Alps; possibly died from malnutrition, pneumonia, maybe tuberculosis Toussaint’s lieutenant Jean-Jacques Dessalines continued the fight and declared Haiti an independent nation in 1804 Trouble followed Dessalines and his predecessors because they forced many former slaves to continue working on the plantations to produce sugar to pay back on debts – often led to their own deaths and assassinations

Creole Revolutions Even though Creoles had less social influence than native born Europeans, they were still better educated and had more opportunities They also had access to works published by the Enlightenment thinkers (essays and pamphlets via the printing press) Napoleon’s conquest of Spain in 1808 triggered movement towards independence in the Spanish colonies Napoleon placed his brother, Joseph, on the Spanish throne – kicked out the old Spanish king Creoles didn’t want to support a French king – “Consent of the Governed”

Creole Revolutions (Cont.) Simon Bolivar, a career soldier from a well-to-do family, joined the Spanish-American resistance movement in South America when Napoleon Bonaparte put his brother (Joseph) on the French throne Formed a resistance army of volunteers in his home country Venezuela in 1811 Had to go into exile in Haiti due to military conflicts with loyalists/royalists 1819 – Led his army through the Andes Mountains in a surprise attack against the city of Bogota (Columbia) – took the Spanish army by surprise and won a decisive victory 1821 – Simon Bolivar defeated Spanish forces – won independence for Venezuela

Revolutionary Leaders Journal Entries Students will get articles of leaders during the Creole/Latin Revolutions: Toussaint L’ Overture, Simon Bolivar, and Father Miguel Hidalgo. Students will create journal entries for each revolutionary leader (4 each). They will be about: Background Reasons they started/got involved with the revolution in their home countries Important battles/events Actions after the revolution/influence on the revolution Each journal entry must be 3-5 sentences long/ Paragraph Write down where journal entries for the revolutionary leaders begins and ends. Entries are due at the end of the period

Toussaint – Background Entry Dear Diary, Just to make sure you remember, my name is Toussaint L’Overture. I was born to an educated slave. My education was limited, but I worked hard to earn my master’s favor. I used to work as a livestock manager, then a coachmen and finally a Stewart. I was legally freed in 1776, whereupon I got married and later had two sons.