Revolts in Latin America Chapter 4.3

Discontent Fans the Fires By the late 1700’s, liberal revolution ideas had spread from Europe to Latin America. Discontent there was rooted in 300 years of Spanish rule. By 1825, most of Latin America (L.A.) had overthrown their European rulers and were free from colonial rule.

Discontent Fans the Fires Cont. Peninsulares, or Spanish born members of the highest social class, dominated political and social life. Many creoles, or European descended Latin Americans who owned haciendas, ranches and mines, resented their 2nd-class status.

Discontent Fans the Fires Cont. Mestizos, or people of Native American and European descent, mulattoes, or people of African and European descent, Angry at being denied the status, wealth and power that were available to whites. Famous Mestizos Famous Mulattoes

Discontent Fans the Fires Cont. In the Caribbean and parts of South America, masses of enslaved Africans who worked on plantations longed for freedom. The Enlightenment inspired creoles in Latin America. They also got inspiration from the American and French Revolutions.

Discontent Fans the Fires Cont. The spark that ignited rebellion in Latin America was Napoleon’s invasion of Spain in 1808. Napoleon ousted the King and put his brother on the Spanish throne.

Slaves Win Freedom for Haiti In the French-ruled colony of Haiti, ½ million African slaves worked on sugar plantations. Inspired by talk of “liberty, fraternity and equality,” the slaves revolted in 1791. Toussaint L’Overture, a skillful leader and former slave, led them to victory and slavery was abolished. In 1802, Napoleon tried to re-conquer Haiti, capturing Toussaint. France surrendered in 1804, giving Haiti independence.

Mexico and Central America Revolt In 1810, a creole priest named Father Miguel Hidalgo from Dolores, Mexico called his church to fight for independence. His speech became known as “El Grito de Dolores.” Within a year, Hidalgo was captured and executed.

Mexico and Central America Revolt Cont. After Hidalgo’s death, Father Jose Morelos carried on the revolution. He fought to give votes to all men and to abolish slavery. captured and killed in 1815 by Spanish forces. Revolutionaries continued the fight and in 1820 successfully declared independence! Spanish-ruled lands in Central America declared independence from Spain in the early 1820’s and became separate republics. (Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador and Costa Rica)

Revolution Ignites South America As discontent among the creoles spread across South America, it led to a widespread drive for independence from Spain. Venezuelan creole Simon Bolivar, was inspired by the French Revolution’s “liberty, equality & fraternity.” In 1808, when Napoleon invaded Spain, he urged his followers to act! In 1810, he established a republic in Venezuela.

Revolution Ignites South America Cont. Bolivar continued to lead nations like Bolivia and Ecuador to victory and became known in South America as “The Liberator.” In 1821, he joined forces with another great general, Jose de San Martin, who helped Argentina, Chile & Peru win independence. Together, the two liberated most of South America from Spanish rule!

Revolution Ignites South America Cont. The wars of independence ended by 1824. Bolivar then worked to try and unify the lands he had liberated into a single nation. Power struggles grew between the leaders and civil wars broke out, leaving Bolivar disappointed. The results of the revolutions in Latin American were conflicting; they had won their independence, but they were not democratic and failed to unify countries.