1. LATIN AMERICAN REVOLUTIONS

2. Independence in Latin America
Main Idea
Revolutionary ideas took hold in Latin America as colonies fought for independence from Europe.
Reading Focus
How did early struggles in Latin America affect Haiti and other colonies?
What events led to independence in Mexico?
Who were the key revolutionary leaders in South America, and what did they achieve?

3. “It takes a revolution….
to make a solution….”
- Bob Marley
WHAT WERE THE PROBLEMS?

4. LATIN AMERICAN REVOLUTIONS: MENU
CAUSES
LEADERS
EFFECTS

5. CAUSES PROBLEMS OF THE THE SPANISH EMPIRE ENLIGHTENMENT THE THE
AMERICAN
REVOLUTION
THE
FRENCH
REVOLUTION

6. PROBLEMS IN THE SPANISH EMPIRE
* Political Disempowerment:
Spanish colonies were run by the Council of the Indies, a group appointed by the King that met in Spain and sent its directives across the Atlantic. Those directives were carried out by the viceroys, officials appointed by Spain to govern the colonies.
* Economic Disempowerment:
Spain had the first right to colonial goods and resources. Excluding all competitors, economic policy was set for Spain’s maximum benefit.

7. SOCIAL HIERARCHY Creoles: Peninsulares: People of pure
European blood
But born in the
New World
Peninsulares:
Native Spaniards P C
M & M
I & A
Mulattos:
African +
European blood
Mestizos:
Indian +
European
blood
Indians and Africans
CAUSES

8. THE ENLIGHTENMENT
BEFORE: Kings are placed on the throne by G-d. Only G-d can remove them.
* Government is based on a contract between the ruler and the ruled.
* Government exists to protect the citizens’ natural rights of life, liberty, & property.
* If the government violates the natural rights of the people, the citizens have a right to revolt against that tyranny.
CAUSES

9. THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
* The success of the American Revolution showed others that colonies could succeed in overthrowing their more powerful mother countries.
CAUSES

10. THE FRENCH REVOLUTION
* Napoleon crowns himself emperor of France in 1804.
* In an attempt to rule all of Europe, he puts family and friends in charge of the territories he has conquered.
* In 1810, Napoleon puts his brother Joseph on the throne of Spain. The Spanish royal family flees.
CAUSES

11. Creoles vs. Peninsulares
Growing Tensions
Creoles, peninsulares made up highest social class
People of mixed race, Africans, Indians lower on social scale
Creoles excluded from highest levels of government, church
As prosperity grew, creoles resented peninsulares, faraway Spanish rulers
Creoles vs. Peninsulares
1807, French emperor Napoleon invaded Spain, Portugal
Spanish king imprisoned, Portuguese king fled to Brazil
Invasion weakened Spanish, Portuguese power in Latin America
Creole revolutionaries decided time right for fight for independence
Napoleon

12. Haiti Becomes Independent Toussaint L’Ouverture
Early Struggles in Latin America
The Enlightenment and the American and French revolutions inspired some in Latin America to seek greater freedom.
Saint Domingue, western half of Caribbean island Hispaniola, first Latin American territory to break ties with Europe
Sugar exports made Saint Domingue one of France’s richest possessions
Prosperity built on slave labor
French Revolution had dramatic effect on island
Haiti Becomes Independent
Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen gave vote to all free men, including mulattoes
French settlers on Saint Domingue resisted new law
Toussaint L’Ouverture led bloody revolt against settlers
Toussaint’s military, political actions made him hero in Hispaniola
Toussaint L’Ouverture

13. SANMARTIN
BOLIVAR
LEADERS
HIDALGO
MORELOS

14. SIMON BOLIVAR * Elite Creole planter Military General
LEADERS
SIMON BOLIVAR
* Elite Creole planter
Military General
* Called the “George Washington of South America.”
* Liberated territories of modern day Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, & Bolivia
* Plan for a federated Latin America was crushed by political in-fighting.

15. Revolutionary Leaders in South America
Inspiration
Revolutions in Haiti, Mexico, America, France inspired leaders in South America
Independence movements began to form, leaders emerged
Simon Bolivar
Simon Bolivar, most influential leader in South American independence movement
Known as “the Liberator”
Venezuelan Roots
Bolivar born into wealthy creole family, often traveled to Europe
Admired Napoleon’s leadership; in Rome, pledged to liberate South America
Independence
1811, Venezuela declared independence from Spain
Bolivar led military campaigns against Spanish for 10 years, defeated Spanish 1821

17. LEADERS
JOSE DE SAN MARTIN
* Creole officer who had trained in European armies.
* Liberated Argentina from Spanish control.
* Met with Bolivar in Guayaquil in While Bolivar favored democracy, San Martin felt only monarchy could work. Turned over command.
* Died in obscurity in Europe.

18. José de San Martin Chile Gran Colombia
José de San Martin fought for independence from Spain in south
San Martin had fought against Napoleon in Spain
Born in Argentina, returned home when he learned country rising up against Spanish rule; eventually led independence movement in Argentina and most of southern South America
1816, San Martin declared independence for Argentina, moved on to Chile
Led troops over 15,000 foot summit in Andes
Surprised Spanish troops, won independence for Chile
Chile
After Chile, San Martin moved to Gran Colombia, met Simon Bolivar
Historians do not know what they discussed when they met
San Martin resigned position after meeting, returned to Europe
Left Bolivar in power
Gran Colombia

21. MIGUEL HIDALGO
LEADERS
* Highly educated Creole priest assigned to town of Dolores.
* September 16, 1810: El Grito de Dolores.
Hidalgo rang the church bell and called upon his mestizo and indigenous parishioners to take up arms against the Spanish.
* Led a rag-tag army toward Mexico City, unleashing mass slaughter of peninsulares in path.
* Never made it to the capital -- Captured and shot in 1811.

22. Independence in Mexico
Napoleon’s conquest of Spain was the spark for independence in the colony of New Spain, as Mexico was known at the time. Mexico was a Spanish colony with a mixture of creoles, peninsulares, Indians, and people of mixed race.
1810, creole priest, Father Miguel Hidalgo, made first public call for Mexican independence
Had history of challenging authority, eventually met creoles who wanted to take power from peninsulares, helped plan rebellion
Father Hidalgo
September 16, 1810, Hidalgo delivered famous speech calling for fight against Spanish peninsulares, though not against Spain
Spanish authorities realized Hidalgo behind growing revolution; captured, executed him
Call to Revolt
Hidalgo would later become known as the Father of Mexican Independence.

23. JOSE MORELOS *Mestizo Priest who took over from Hidalgo.
* Much more successful general
“With three such men as Jose Morelos, I could conquer the world.” - Napoleon Bonaparte
* Established a congress which:
*Created a declaration of rights
*Abolished slavery
*Declared equality of classes
*Captured and executed in December 1815
LEADERS
MENU

24. Morelos Continues the Revolution
After death of Hidalgo, another creole priest, Jose Maria Morelos, became leader of revolutionary movement
Organized Mexican congress, representatives from many places
Wanted all people born in Mexico, whether Indian, mixed or creole, to be called Americans
Independent Republic
Morelos wanted Mexico to be an independent republic with guaranteed freedoms
Strong military leader, took control of parts of Mexico for independence movement
Captured, found guilty of treason, executed by Spanish authorities

25. POLITICAL
INTERNATIONAL
EFFECTS
ECONOMIC

26. POLITICAL: THE CAUDILLOS
* By 1830, nearly all Latin American countries were ruled by caudillos.
WHY?
* The upper classes supported dictatorship because it kept the lower classes out of power.
* The lower classes did not have experience with democracy. Dictatorship seemed normal.
EFFECTS

27. INTERNATIONAL: THE MONROE DOCTRINE
“The American continents…are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by any European powers.” - James Monroe, 1823

28. WHY?
* The War of 1812 with Britain had shown the U.S. that some-times revolutionary victories could lead to sequels.
* The U.S. had political and economic interests in keeping Europe out of the Western hemisphere. From 1823 on, it would be the U.S.’ backyard.
* Though the U.S. did not have the muscle to back up its threats, Great Britain agreed to support the Monroe Doctrine due to its new favorable trading position in Latin America.
EFFECTS

29. ECONOMIC: ONE-CROP ECONOMIES
* Now that trade was not restricted to the mother country, the U.S. and Great Britain became the new countries’ major trading partners.
* A colonial economy continued…Latin America mainly exported cash crops and raw materials while importing manufactured goods.

30. AN IMBALANCE OF TRADE
* As the imbalance of trade grew, Latin American countries took out large loans from the U.S., Britain, and Germany to build infrastructure.
* When the countries could not pay back their loans, foreign lenders gained control of major industries in Latin America.

31. THE QUESTION OF LAND AT LEAST, DID THE SOCIAL PYRAMID CHANGE? NO!
* Once the Spaniards were expelled, the new governments seized their lands and put them up for sale, BUT….only the creoles could afford to buy them.
* Thus, the creoles replaced the peninsulares at the top of the social pyramid, but other classes remained at the bottom of the ladder.
EFFECTS

32. Dictatorship of the Council of the Indies and the Viceroys
Dictatorship of the Caudillos
Unequal trade relationship with Spain benefiting
Unequal trade relationship with Great Britain and the U.S. benefiting
Native Spaniards at the top of the social ladder, followed by creoles, and with the rest of the population at the bottom
Creoles at the top of the ladder with the rest of the population at the bottom.

33. BOLIVAR’S LAST WORD
* Simon Bolivar had taken up the cause of independence hoping to establish a new order where Latin American countries would be free, democratic, and federated (in agreement to work together.) Instead, upon his death, he saw a world in which dictators ruled and disunity reigned. Disgusted by what he saw, he gave this warning to future generations:
“America is ungovernable for us. He who serves a revolution plows the sea.”