Latin American Independence Chapter 14 Section 5

Farming provided another major source of colonial income Spain and Portugal regarded their Latin American colonies with a mercantilist view- the idea that colonies existed chiefly to increase the home countries’ wealth Farming provided another major source of colonial income Monarchs granted huge tracts of fertile land to explorers & nobles Land owners forced Native Americans to work farms. When they died (labor&disease) African Americans were enslaved

Catholicism was brought to the Americas Native Americans were converted to Catholicism Taught them loyalty to the Crown Colonial governments and clergy worked closely together Catholic Church controlled almost half the wealth of Latin America

Social classes were based on privilege Colonists were unhappy with colonial rule; resented trade restrictions, high taxes, & rigid colonial social structure Social classes were based on privilege Peninsulares: born in Spain/Portugal, top of the social order, leaders, military & political positions Creoles: colonial-born, white, aristocrats, controlled most of the land & businesses, “second-class”

Mestizos: Latin Americans of mixed Native American & European ancestry, faced social & racial barriers worked as servants, unskilled laborers, carpenters, plantation overseers, & farmhands

Latin America began to challenge the rigid social order and its controls with revolts throughout Latin American. Creoles played largest leadership roles. Creoles were wealthy & well-educated and were well versed in the liberal political philosophies of the Enlightenment, but their colonial birth prevented them from holding the highest government positions. Creoles were eager to take control of Latin American affairs.

France depended on Haitian plantations for sugar & coffee First successful uprising in the Latin American colonies took place in the French colony of Haiti France depended on Haitian plantations for sugar & coffee Enslaved Africans led by Francois Toussaint-Louverture (formerly enslaved man) revolted Set fire to plantation homes & fields of sugarcane

Napoleon sent forces to take control of the colony A wave of yellow fever swept across the colony killing thousands of French soldiers Rebel army defeated the French Haiti proclaimed its independence in 1804 As a result many Haitians also fled to the US

Haitain woman picture

Miguel Hidalgo (Catholic priest) led the fight in Mexico against the Spanish government He cared about the poverty stricken Native Americans and mestizos Wanted political freedom Wanted to end slavery Wanted to improve living conditions for Mexico’s poor

Hidalgo made an address, “el Grito de Dolores” or “the cry of Dolores” Called Mexicans to fight for “Independence & Liberty” He led a freedom march which turned into an armed movement which was crushed by the Spanish Army Hidalgo was captured & executed

Another priest, Jose Maria Morelos, led a revolution after Hidalgo Another priest, Jose Maria Morelos, led a revolution after Hidalgo. His forces were defeated and he was executed. A liberal revolt in Spain threatened to overthrow the monarchy and establish a constitution. Wealthy Mexican creoles feared the change so they declared independence from Spain in 1821. The Mexican ruler, Agustin de Iturbide made himself emperor, but opposition to his oppressive rule developed. The Mexican people soon deposed Iturbide and declared their country a republic in 1823.

Central American provinces in New Spain declared their independence Central American provinces in New Spain declared their independence. In Guatemala, representatives established the United Provinces of Central American. In the 1830s, leaders divided the region into the countries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.

Bolivar devoted his life to freedom for Latin Americans When Napoleon took control of the Spanish government, the Spanish colonies of South American gained an opportunity for independence. The Spanish were weak & vulnerable from Spain’s fight against France. Revolts broke out led by Simon Bolivar (Creole from Venezuela), Jose de San Martin, and Bernardo O’Higgins. Bolivar devoted his life to freedom for Latin Americans He crushed Spain’s power in northern South American at the Battle of Boyaca He & his forces won freedom for Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, Bolivia, & Ecuador.

O’Higgins and San Martin gained independence for Chile O’Higgins and San Martin gained independence for Chile. Then, San Martin set off to free Peru. He captured Lima and declared Peru independent. Bolivar and his armies liberated all of South America When Napolean’s French army invaded Portugal, the Portugal royal family fled to Brazil

King Joao transferred his monarchy to Brazil Industry & commerce in Brazil was flourishing After providing funds for education, military academies,& an art school, Joao made Brazil a self-governing kingdom within the Portuguese Empire Brazil was left to Joao’s son, Dom Pedro, after liberals tried taking over the Portuguese government

Brazil won full independence in 1822 after Dom Pedro defied Portuguese leaders trying to make Brazil a colonial possession again Pedro was crowned Emperor Pedro I of Brazil, which made Brazil the only independent country in South American to freely choose a constitutional monarchy as its form of government Portugal didn’t recognize Brazil’s independence until 1825

Building a stable & properous nation among all the Latin American countries was a challenge due to geography High mountains & jungles made transportation & communications difficult, which hindered trade & economic growth Latin Americans weren’t used to being responsible for their own government and therefore had no experience in running one

Social conditions didn’t change much besides creoles now having a higher rank on the social classes than peninsulares Catholicism was still the official religion Church & government were still closely related Upper and lower social class ranking system was still used

Conservatives and liberals had conflicting views on political issues such as separation of Church & state, land taxes, and public social services. Today, there still remains in many Latin American countries a vast gap between the ruling rich and the underprivileged poor.