GRAN COLOMBIA

Venezuela 1810 Venezuela took the opportunity to become independent while Spain was fighting with France. In 1811, Francisco de Miranda of Venezuela called for independence Spain, based upon Napoleon brother Joseph being named the ruler of Spain. It was clear from the beginning that this independence was based upon social classes Creole wanted independence and wanted to end slave trade but not slavery

Venezuela This revolution was a creole, non-whites originally not involved The royalists of Spain capitalized on this and go the non-whites to fight for Spain So this was not just a revolution but also civil war. Jose Tomas Boves, led the large mixed race army against the creoles

Venezuela Spain took advantage of the people fighting against each other and retook Caracas in 1815 This recapture of Venezuela and the fact that Spain did not keep their promise to the non-whites unified people against Spain. Simon Bolivar became the leader of the revolt, he welcomed all races. To show his support he himself freed his slaves

Simon Bolivar Known as the Liberator Bolivar was a rich land owner creole His first attempt at independence failed and he was exiled to Jamaica, he also spent some time in Haiti. While in Jamaica he wrote “Letter from Jamaica”, which was letter to the British to ask for help in the independence of Venezuela. He was also promised help from Haiti government

Simon Bolivar Bolivar returned to Venezuela with the help of the Haitian, (if he freed the slaves) and a Legion of British soldiers.( now not fighting in the Napoleonic War) Spain was also fighting in the Peninsular war, so they needed to make decisions on where to fight. In 1820 Spain withdrew from Venezuela, but did not recognize them as an independent country Now Bolivar turned his attention South to Ecuador, with the help of Jose de San Martin. None the less they gained their independence at first as part of the Gran Colombia

Gran Colombia Formally the Viceroyalty of New Granada Made up of modern Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Panama and parts of Brazil Formed in 1819 during the wars of independence from Spain, created a constitution and Independence from Spain before the war was won. Appointed Simon Bolivar as the President of the Gran Colombia Simon Bolivar’s idea to unify Latin America His vision was that sovereignty belonged to the majority who were non-white, however feared the tyranny of the dominant class

Gran Columbia Bolivar imposed a strong executive to enforce legal equality were racial inequality prevailed He rewarded military leaders land for their service in the war giving them local dominance When he was gone fighting independence for other parts of Gran Columbia he turned to these men for loyal leadership Bolivar however was unable to change the race or the class system of the area Bolivar became sick in 1830 and resigned as the President of Gran Columbia After his death in 1830 the Gran Columbia broke apart

Jose de San Martin As Bolivar was liberating the North Colonies of Latin America, San Martin was liberating the Southern parts of Latin America San martin was born in Argentina, however was sent to Spain to study. He became a member of the Spanish army, where he realized that he was unable to advance further because he was a creole Meeting other creoles in Spain with the same idea of liberating Latin America he returned to Argentina to fight for Independence

Jose de San Martin San Martin decided to his campaign in Chile, where he was joined by a Chilean patriot Bernardo O’Higgins. With the help of O’Higgins the Spanish were defeated at the battle of Chacabuco. San Martin was asked to be the leader of Chile, which he deferred to O’Higgins San Martin continued his campaign to upper Chile at the Battle of Maipu, which finalized the independence of Chile.

Jose De San Martin After the liberation of Chile, San Martin continued into Peru, where he met up with Bolivar. Bolivar and San Martin had a meeting in Peru and after that meeting San Martin resigned his troops over to Bolivar, which continued the liberation of Peru. (Battle of Junin) San Martin moved to France where he died in 1824

Monroe Doctrine In 1823, James Monroe in his State of the Union addressed made a statement to Congress that later became known as the Monroe Doctrine, warning Europe to state out of involvement of Latin America. Fear was European powers would try to take over the newly Independent countries of Latin America. Biggest fear was of Russia who had just taken over the territory of Alaska.

Monroe Doctrine However not stated what would happen if the Doctrine was ignored, European countries accepted the Doctrine US wanted to establish commerce and diplomatic relations with the newly formed democratic countries US wanted to stop the spread of European powers in the Americas, but did not stop their own expansion.