Independence Movements in Latin America

Latin American Geography Latin America is made up of countries from North America, Central America, South America and the Caribbean Islands. All languages spoken here are derived from Latin. The cultures of this region reflect a combination of native beliefs and colonial powers.

Topography Major topographical features: Sierra Madre Mountains Yucatan Peninsula Amazon Basin Andes Mountains Atacama Desert Brazilian Highlands Patagonia

Spirit of Liberation “I swear before God and by my honor never to allow my hands to be idle nor my soul to rest until I have broken the chains that bind us to Spain” Simon Bolivar What do you think “Liberation” means? Explain the meaning of this quote in your own words. Bolivar would fulfill quote and by 1825 most of Latin America had been freed from colonial rule.

Long Term Causes European domination Enlightenment ideas of Locke, Rousseau & Montesquieu American and French Revolutions Growth of nationalism

Immediate Causes Creoles, Mestizos & Indians resent colonial rule Revolutionary leaders emerge Napoleon invades Spain & colonies saw Spain’s weakness as an opportunity to revolt

Haiti’s Struggle Haiti’s sugar plantations made it a valuable colony of France

Toussaint L’Ouverture Born into slavery Son of a Noble West African Family Learned to read Inspired by stories of revolt in ancient Rome and Julius Caesar

Uprising of 1791 Toussaint with support of slaves vs France, Spain, Britain and Mulattoes More lives lost than in any other Revolution in the Americas

Rebuilding Haiti By 1798 enslaved Haitians free Toussaint controlled most of the island Attempted to heal rifts between classes Offered government jobs to whites, mulattoes & Africans Napoleon enters picture in 1802 when 100 French soldiers were dying a day TRUCE ESTABLISHED

Death of Toussaint Toussaint was betrayed and seized by Napoleon’s men Ten months later in a French prison Toussaint died 1804 Haitian leaders declared independence 1820 Haiti a republic & only non slave nation in Western Hemisphere

Call to Freedom in Mexico September 16, 1810 Father Miguel Hidalgo, a Creole priest, rang bells of freedom “My children, will you be free? Will you make the effort to recover the lands stolen from your forefathers by the hated Spaniards 300 years ago?”

Mexicans rally behind Hidalgo Hidalgo is supported by poor Mexicans Mestizos and Native Americans march to Mexico city Called for an end to slavery Before 1811 he was executed

Father Jose Morelos Father Morelos, a mestizo, called for the end of slavery and suffrage for all men He was captured and shot Spain almost succeeded in ending rebel movements

Independence for Spain & Mexico 1820 liberals forced King of Spain to issue a constitution Conservative Creole Agustin de Iturbide feared colonial reform 1821, backed by Creoles, mestizos and Native Americans he overthrew Spanish Viceroy Life for most changed little

South America’s Struggles Strong Native American challenge led by Tupac Amaru in 1780 Revolt crushed bbut Spanish King ened system of forced labor By the 1800s discontent among Creoles sparked drive for independence

Simon Bolivar Acts Simon Bolivar, an educated Creole, saw Napoleon’s occuparion of Spain the signal to act In 1810 he led an uprising that established a republic in Venezuela Civil war raged & Bolivar forced into exile

“The Liberator” 1819 Bolivar marches army across the Andes and attacks at Bogota 1821 he freed Caracas, Venezuela Moves into Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia Joins forces with Jose de San Martin

Jose de San Martin San Martin , a Creole like Bolivar, was born in Argentina 1816 he won freedom for Argentina He led an army across Andes into Chile 1822 San Martin stepped aside & Bolivar won final victories against Spain

Dreams and Disappointments By 1824 wars of independence had ended Bolivar’s dream for Gran Columbia vanished as rivalries flared Gran Columbia split into Venezuela, Columbia and Ecuador Violent civil wars emerged Long struggle for stability and even longer for democracy

Independence for Brazil Portuguese King fled Napoleon to Brazil Instituted reforms Leaves son Dom Pedro to rule Brazil “If Brazil demands independence, proclaim it yourself and put the crown on your own head.” In 1822 Dom Pedro became Emperor

Long-Term Effects 18 separate republics are established Struggle to achieve stable democratic governments & to gain economic independence Ongoing efforts to bring prosperity & democracy to the people of Latin America

Assignment Work in groups to complete your Recipe for Revolution