Latin American Independence

Breakdown of Society African Slaves – people brought over to serve in the fields of the new colony Natives – people who were from the conquered land Mulattos – Mixed European and African ancestry Mestizos – Mixed European and Native ancestry Creoles – Spaniards born in Latin America Peninsulares – born in Spain

A little background None of this happens in a vacuum – Peninsulares have been bringing over the ideas of the enlightenment since the 1600s Creoles were reading these documents and so were the wealthier mestizos and mulattos – Those who knew the Enlightenment readings were excited to hear about the American and French Revolutions This would combine with the enlightenment ideas they already had to lead to uprisings in 16 of the Latin American colonies

Haiti’s Independence Saint Domingue was the first colony to free itself from European rule – French The island was home to nearly 500,000 enslaved Africans – Vastly outnumbering the roughly 20,000 white individuals on the island – The slaves were kept in line with brutal methods Branding Whipping Owners would brag about the “sophistication” of the methods of punishment or execution they used – Burning wax poured over the head was a punishment – While being burned alive or attached to “four posts” was used for executions 1791 – 100,000 slaves rose up against their French masters – Toussaint L’Ouverture became the leader of this revolt His father had been sold to a man who allowed the children of his slave to learn so Toussaint learned rudimentary French and was able to read the literature of the Enlightenment While he had this training, he was still unsure about diplomatic and military matters but he was a fast learner – By 1801 – they had taken control of the island and freed all the slaves (Napoleon was signing the Concordat with the Pope in the same year) 1802 – French troops landed in Saint Domingue to remove Toussaint from power – But it doesn’t go very well for them, majority die and Napoleon is still stuck with a colony not producing anything for him 1803 – Napoleon is ready to be done with Haiti because its not getting him anywhere so he agrees to recognize Haitian independence as long as Toussaint retired from office – A few months later, Toussaint was then invited to negotiate trade relations with France When he arrived at the meeting place, he was arrested and put on a ship headed for France He was placed in a dungeon in the Alps where he died from starvation, cold, and neglect Jean-Jacques Dessalines, Toussaint’s lieutenant, took up the fight after Toussaint was betrayed – 1804 the colony was declared an independent country – He called the island Haiti which meant “mountainous land” in the language of the Arawak natives

Simon Bolivar and Venezuela When the true king was disposed, power transferred to the people so when Napoleon removed the king of Spain, it lead to multiple uprisings in the colonies Simon Bolivar – Venezuela declared its independence in 1811 but it was not that easy – Bolivar’s volunteer army lost many battles but continued fighting Bolivar was exiled twice after looses 1819 – Turning point – Lead 2,000 soldiers through the Andes into Colombia – This allowed the Venezuelan soldiers to defeat the Spanish at Bogota 1821 – Bolivar had forced Venezuelan independence – Marched South into Ecuador where he met Jose de San Martin

San Martin’s Argentina 1816 – Argentina declares independence – But Spanish forces in Chile and Peru were still a threat 1817 – San Martin lead an army across the Andres to Chile – Once here he joined forces with Bernardo O’Higgins and they freed Chile 1822 – realized that in order to completely destroy the Spanish, he would need more men – Met with Bolivar at Guayaquil, Ecuador – Reached an agreement that gave Bolivar complete control of the army – Bolivar defeated the Spanish at the Battle of Ayacucho (Peru) 1824 Last major battle of the war for independence against Spain Creation of Gran Colombia – Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, and Ecuador

Mexico Breaks from Spain Here Mexicans and mestizos played the leading role in independence 1810 – Grito de Dolores – Padre Miguel Hidalgo rang the bells of his village church Poor but well-educated man who believed in Enlightenment ideals – When the peasants gathered, he issued a call for rebellion against the Spanish What you read for homework, what was he saying with this call? Why do you think its important that he compared the peasants to slaves? 17 September 1810 – the followers of Hidalgo started a march to Mexico City – By the time they got there, there were 80,000 men – This alarmed the Spanish and Creoles and the army was dispatched to defeat Hidalgo, which they did Jose Maria Morelos – new leader after the loss of Hidalgo – Lead the revolution for four years until he was defeated by a creole officer, Agustin de Iturbide fighting for Spain – The revolution kept evolving though as armies across Mexico fought the Spanish royalists 1820 – Revolution in Spain but a liberal group in power there – Creoles feared the loss of their privilege in the Spanish-controlled colony United in support of Mexico’s independence from Spain – Agustin de Iturbide declared Mexican independence 1821 – the Treaty of Cordoba established Mexico as a constitutional monarchy under Agustin de Iturbide – 18 months later, the emperor was ousted and the first Mexican Republic was established

Brazil’s Bloodless Independence Freed from Portugal 1807 – Napoleon invaded Portugal and Spain in an attempt to support his Continental System – As French troops got close to Lisbon (capital of Portugal), the royal family hopped a ship to their largest overseas colony, Brazil Rio de Janiero became the center for the Portuguese empire – 14 years 1815 – the royal family returned to Portugal (with the end of Napoleon) but Dom Pedro, the king’s son, stayed behind King John planned to make Brazil a colony again but many would not accept the return to this status – 1822 – 8,000 Brazilians signed a petition asking Dom Pedro to rule and he agreed – 1822 – Dom Pedro officially declared Brazilian independence