The Father of Mexican Independence Miguel Hidalgo The Father of Mexican Independence

His Early Years Miguel Hidalgo was born in 1753. His family saw that he got a good education. As he grew up, he read books with ideas on freedom and equality.

Hidalgo’s Concerns Hidalgo saw that there was not equality for the peasant workers in Mexico, and that people born in Spain got special treatment compared to citizens born in Mexico.

His Occupation Miguel Hidalgo trained to be a priest, and he worked among the native people and peasants.

In 1808, France invaded Spain, and the king was removed. Problems in Mexico In 1808, France invaded Spain, and the king was removed. This created problems in Mexico because people were not sure they supported the new French government.

Freedom From Rule One group of people in Mexico thought it was time for Mexico to be independent, and Hidalgo was one of these people.

1810 Hidalgo was warned that he was going to be arrested. Instead of running away, he ran to his church and rang the bell.

A Speech People from the countryside came into the church. Instead of having a church service, Hidalgo gave a speech. He said that it was time for Mexico to be set free.

Followers At first, thousands of people followed Hidalgo. They won several victories against the Spanish army. However, they did not have training or many weapons.

Captured Eventually, the Spanish army pulled its forces together and attacked. They defeated the rebels and captured Hidalgo. He was tried for treason and found guilty.

Death Miguel Hidalgo was executed by Spanish soldiers on July 30, 1811. The war for independence continued. Mexico did not win its independence for another ten years.

Independence In 1821, Spain withdrew the last of its troops from Mexico. Mexico celebrates its Independence Day on September 16th each year. People decorate streets, houses, buildings, and cars with Mexico’s flag and national colors of green, white, and red.

Toussaint L’Ouverture, Simon Bolivar, Latin American Independence Movement Toussaint L’Ouverture, Simon Bolivar, & Miguel Hidalgo

Simon Bolivar

Simon Bolivar Simon Bolivar was a wealthy Venezuelan Criollo (Spanish-born parents, but was born in Latin America) who spent many years traveling Europe. While in Italy, he discovered his life’s purpose: to liberate his homeland from European control. In 1810, Bolivar’s army kicks the Spanish governor out of Venezuela. In 1811, a new constitution proclaimed Venezuela independent of Spanish rule. Soon after, Spanish royalists defeated the new country’s army and Bolivar was forced to flee to New Granada (Colombia).

El Libertador Bolivar organized a bigger army and marched back into Venezuela. In 1813, Bolivar’s army won and took control of Venezuela’s capital, Caracas. Bolivar was nicknamed El Libertador.

El Libertador Over the next few years, Bolivar liberated New Granada (now Colombia), Ecuador, Panama, Peru, & Upper Peru (now Bolivia).

Toussaint L'Ouverture

Toussaint L’Ouverture Toussaint L’Ouverture was a former slave in Haiti. He was freed in 1777. In 1791, he led a huge slave revolt against the French in Hispaniola. France was also fighting a war against Spanish forces in Hispaniola; they couldn’t deal with slave rebellions. They promised that any slave who joined the French army & fought the Spanish would be freed. In 1795, L’Ouverture’s army helped the French defeat the Spanish.

Toussaint L’Ouverture L’Ouverture’s army fought the French and lost. In 1801, L’Ouverture led a huge army into a Spanish colony and freed all slaves there. Six months later, he became “Governor General of Haiti for life.” In 1802, a large French army landed in Haiti. They wanted to restore the old French government and regain control of the sugar trade. L’Ouverture’s army fought the French and lost. The French arrested L’Ouverture and sent him to prison in France. He died while in prison.

Haiti’s Independence L’Ouverture’s army was outraged; it took up arms again against France. In November 1803, they defeated the last of the French forces. In 1804, they declared Haiti independent of French rule. Haiti became the 1st country in Latin America to break free of European imperialism.

“WHO AM I?” Write a description of one of the following from the Latin American History unit. Your choices are Miguel Hidalgo, Simon Bolivar, Toussaint L’Ouverture, Montezuma, Atahualpa, Francisco Pizarro, or Hernan Cortes. Include pictures/symbols to help others guess who you are talking about.