Independence in Spanish America, Alienation of Americanos; exploitation of plebsAlienation of Americanos; exploitation of plebs –Fear/Hope of social rebellion: Tupac Amaru (Peru, 1780s), Haiti (1791), Coro (Venezuela, 1795), Guanajuato (New Spain, 1810) Chaos in Spain: 1 invader, 2 cortes, 2 absolutistsChaos in Spain: 1 invader, 2 cortes, 2 absolutists 4 independence movements, 4 regions4 independence movements, 4 regions –New Spain: Hidalgo revolution to conservative coup –Rio de la Plata: Early victory (1810), delayed peace –New Granada: One nation or three? –Peru: 2 royalist armies, the last patriot victory (1826) Independence, not revolutionIndependence, not revolution –Bolivar (1830): “Independence is the only benefit we have gained, at the cost of everything else.”

Alienation of Americanos; exploitation of plebs Alienation of americanos by imperialism of Spanish monarchists and liberals.Alienation of americanos by imperialism of Spanish monarchists and liberals. Exploitation of plebsExploitation of plebs 1760: “If in all Spain one should picture the number of poor and wretched that there are, one would not find as many nor as denuded as in Mexico (City) alone.... Unfortunately in this city one finds two diametrically opposed extremes: great wealth and maximum poverty.” Great Fear/Hope of social rebellion:Great Fear/Hope of social rebellion: –Tupac Amaru (Peru, 1780s) –Haiti (1791) –Coro (Venezuela, 1795) –Guanajuato (New Spain, 1810)

Chaos in Spain: Invasion, 2 parliaments, 2 attempts at absolutism Effect of French Revolution on independence:Effect of French Revolution on independence: –regicide, not rights of man –Napoleon’s invasion shattered the dynastic tie, not the struggle for liberty or democracy Spanish cortes, implacable imperialistsSpanish cortes, implacable imperialists –refused colonial representation proportional to population, and other colonial demands –Agustin Iturbide (1821): “The Cortes seem determined to lose these possessions.” Ferdinand VII (absolute monarch ; ) : “learned nothing, forgot nothing”Ferdinand VII (absolute monarch ; ) : “learned nothing, forgot nothing” –harsh reprisals in Spain and Spanish America –1820 coup: Spain could no longer protect against revolt in America

4 independence movements, 4 regions New Spain, 4 phases:New Spain, 4 phases: –Hidalgo revolution ( ) –Morelos disciplined polit-military campaign ( ) –Guerrilla insurgencies on the periphery –Conservative “coup” led by royalist commander, Augustin de Iturbide (1822) Rio de la Plata: Early victory (1810), delayed peace (18??)Rio de la Plata: Early victory (1810), delayed peace (18??) New Granada: One nation or three?New Granada: One nation or three? Peru: 2 royalist armies, the last patriot victory (1826)Peru: 2 royalist armies, the last patriot victory (1826) Cuba, “always faithful isle”…until “Slavery is worth an army of 100,000.”Cuba, “always faithful isle”…until “Slavery is worth an army of 100,000.”

Chronology, geography of the Hidalgo phase Sept. 16, 1810: beginning of insurrection at DoloresSept. 16, 1810: beginning of insurrection at Dolores Sept. 28, 1810: sacking of GuanajuatoSept. 28, 1810: sacking of Guanajuato Jan. 17, 1811: defeat at Calderon bridge (Guadalajara) by Felix CallejaJan. 17, 1811: defeat at Calderon bridge (Guadalajara) by Felix Calleja July 31, 1811Hidalgo beheaded in ChihuahuaJuly 31, 1811Hidalgo beheaded in Chihuahua Chihuahua Dolores Guadalajara Guanajuato

Hidalgo handbill directed at Creoles (late 1810) “Noble Americanos, only for God does one give one’s life, but for the Gachupines, no, no, no. As they did not defend the Jesuits…” Sought to reassure creoles that lives and property, even of Gachupines, would be respected.Sought to reassure creoles that lives and property, even of Gachupines, would be respected.

Hidalgo’s land reform, Dec. 15, 1810 “…in exchange for rents due,... lands must be handed over to the Naturales for cultivation… because it is my will that their use be solely for the Naturales of their respective Villages.”“…in exchange for rents due,... lands must be handed over to the Naturales for cultivation… because it is my will that their use be solely for the Naturales of their respective Villages.”

The missing phase, regional insurgencies on the periphery 1. Osorno1. Osorno 2. Ignacio Rayon2. Ignacio Rayon 3. Vicente Guerrero3. Vicente Guerrero 4. Guadalupe Victoria4. Guadalupe Victoria 5. Servando Mier y Teran5. Servando Mier y Teran Mexico City

Simon Bolivar on independence 1830: “Independence is the only benefit we have gained, at the cost of everything else.”1830: “Independence is the only benefit we have gained, at the cost of everything else.” “America is in chaos.”“America is in chaos.”

Independence, not revolution John Lynch, Spanish American Revolutions:John Lynch, Spanish American Revolutions: Independence was a powerful yet finite force, which tore through Spanish America like a great storm, sweeping away the lines of attachment to Spain and the fabric of colonial government, but leaving intact the deeply rooted bases of colonial society. “ Independence was a powerful yet finite force, which tore through Spanish America like a great storm, sweeping away the lines of attachment to Spain and the fabric of colonial government, but leaving intact the deeply rooted bases of colonial society. “... [It was] a political revolution in which one ruling class displaced another.”

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