Revolution in South America How were the nationalist revolts in Latin America influenced by the French and American Revolutions? Give examples of how countries such as Haiti, Mexico, and those of South America were able to gain independence.

A. How were the nationalist revolts in Latin America influenced by the French and American Revolutions? By the end of the 18th century, new political ideals stemming from the American Revolution were beginning to influence the creole (descendants of Europeans living in Latin America) elites. Controlled most land and business Were attracted to the ideas of equality, free trade, and free press Disliked the domination of trade by Spain and Portugal, who were accumulating most of the wealth produced in the region

A. How were the nationalist revolts in Latin America influenced by the French and American Revolutions? The creole elites began to spread these new ideas and denounce the control of the monarchs and peninsulares, leaders of the region sent over by the monarch to control the population in the region. At the start of the 19th century, Napoleon’s wars in Europe and invasion of Spain (and Portugal) weakened the authority of those countries in their Latin American colonies. Between 1807 – 1825, a series of revolts to overthrow the colonial powers took place.

B. Give examples of how countries such as Haiti, Mexico, and those of South America were able to gain independence. Haiti – In 1803, Toussaint-Louverture led more than 100,000 enslaved workers in a revolt, taking control of the island. Mexico – In 1810, Miguel Hidalgo, a parish priest who had studied the French Revolution, enticed the local Native American and mestiszo (mixed European/Native) population to reclaim the land their forefathers controlled centuries before. Even though Hidalgo was heavily defeated and sentenced to death, his actions sparked an uprising that would eventually lead to independence in 1821.

B. Give examples of how countries such as Haiti, Mexico, and those of South America were able to gain independence. South America – led by creole elites San Martin (Argentina) and Simon Bolivar (Venezuela), Venezuela, Argentina, and Colombia had gained independence by 1810. By 1817, San Martin had crossed the Andes and took the peninsulares in Chile by surprise. By 1824, 8 countries had claimed independence from Spain. By 1823, Central America had freedom, and was divided into 5 countries (not Belize and Panama). In 1822, Brazil was granted independence from Portugal’s “king in waiting”.