1. Latin American Peoples Win Independence
Chapter 24
Section 1

2. Spurred by discontent and Enlightenment ideas, peoples in Latin America fought colonial rule.
Sixteen of today’s Latin American nations gained their independence during this time.
Main Idea

3. Present Day Latin America

4. Colonial Society Divided
Like so many of the other societies we have studied, Social structure or Class, dictated peoples place in society and their jobs.
Latin American colonies were divided into six main groups:
Peninsulares
Creoles
Mestizos
Mulattos
Africans
Indians
Colonial Society Divided

5. Peninsulares Highest Class Born in Spain
Small percentage of population
Only group that could hold a high governmental office
Peninsulares

6. Creoles Spaniards born in Latin America Ranked below peninsulares
Could not hold a high political office
Could rise as officers in the army
Creoles

7. Mestizos Ranked below Peninsulares and the Creoles
Mixed European and Indian ancestry

8. Mulattos Mixed European and African ancestry
As well as enslaved Africans
Mulattos

9. On the lowest rung of the social ladder
Indians

10. Revolutions in the Americas
News of the American and French Revolution had spread to the colonies.
The success of the American Revolution encouraged them to try to gain freedom from the European masters.
Revolutions in the Americas

11. Revolution in Haiti
Saint Domingue – First European colony to free itself from European rule.
N/K/A – Haiti
French colony
500,000 African slaves worked on French plantations
Greatly outnumbered their masters
Brutal methods were used to keep the slaves powerless.

12. During the French Revolution
The oppressed people of Haiti rose up against their French masters.
August 1791 – 100,000 enslaved Africans rose in revolt.
Leader – Toussaint L’Ouverture
(too-SAWN loo-vair-TOOR)
Took control of the entire island and freed all the enslaved Africans
January 1792 – 30,000 French came to Saint Domingue to remove Toussaint from power.
During the French Revolution

13. Toussaint L’Ouverture
Toussaint agreed to stop the revolution IF the French would end slavery.
The French agreed.
However, the French sent him away to die in prison.
Toussaint L’Ouverture

14. Haiti’s Independence Toussaint’s lieutenant – Jean-Jacques Dessalines
Continued to fight for freedom.
January 1, 1804 – Dessalines declared Haiti an independent country.
First black colony to free itself from European rule.
Haiti’s Independence

15. Creoles Lead Independence
Creoles were the least oppressed of those born in Latin America.
Well-educated
Traveled to Europe to be educated.
Brought back ideas of the revolution with them.
Creoles Lead Independence

16. Napoleon and Spain
Napoleon removed Spain’s king and made his brother king.
Creoles considered the new king as French and did not support his rule over the colonies.
Creoles justified their actions with Locke’s idea of consent of the governed.
Since king was removed, power shifted to the people.
Rebellion broke out in several parts of Latin America

17. Simon Bolivar Creole general, from Venezuela
Venezuela declared its independence from Spain in 1811.
Spain wouldn’t accept the declaration.
Bolivar led an victorious army and by 1821, Venezuela was independent.
Simon Bolivar

18. Jose de San Martin Creole general, from Argentina
Declared Argentina’s independence in 1816.
San Martin freed Chile.
Devised a plan with Bolivar to free Peru.

19. Bolivar leads San Martin’s Army
Pursuant to their agreement, San Martin left his army for Bolivar to lead.
Defeated the Spanish in 1824.
This was the last battle in the war for independence.
The Spanish colonies won their freedom.
The future countries of Venezuela, Colombia, Panama and Ecuador became known as the Gran Colombia.
Bolivar leads San Martin’s Army

20. Mexico Ends Spanish Rule
In most Latin America countries, creoles led the revolutionary movements.
In Mexico, however, ethnic and racial groups mixed more freely.
Indians and mestizos played the leading role in revolutionary movements.
Mexico Ends Spanish Rule

21. 1810 – Padre Miguel Hidalgo took the first step toward independence.
Hidalgo firmly believed in Enlightenment ideas.
Rang his church bells to gather a crowd on September 16, 1810.
When the peasants gathered, he called for a rebellion against the Spanish.
A Cry for Freedom

22. March toward Mexico City
The next day, 80,000 Indian and mestizo followers marched toward Mexico City.
This uprising of the lower classes alarmed the Spanish army and creoles.
Feared loss of land, control and their lives.
Army defeated Hidalgo in 1811.
March toward Mexico City

23. Morelos led the revolution for four years before being defeated by Creole officer Agustin de Iturbide.
Jose Morelos

24. Mexico’s Independence
1820 – Spain put a liberal group in power in Mexico.
Creoles feared loss of their privileges.
They united in support of Mexico’s independence.
Mexico proclaimed independence in 1821.
Ironically, under the man who had defeated Morelos- Agustin de Iturbide
Mexico’s Independence

25. Central America Central America had been governed by Spain.
1821 – several Central American states declared their independence from Spain.
The emperor of Mexico refused to recognize the declaration.
1823 – emperor was overthrown.
Became known as Provinces of Central America: Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Costa Rica.
Central America

26. Brazil’s Royal Liberator
Brazil’s request for independence was unusual.
It did not involve violence.
1807 – Napoleon’s armies invaded both Spain and Portugal to close the ports to British shipping.
The royal family boarded ships to Brazil to escape capture.
Made Rio de Janeiro the capital of Brazil.
Brazil’s Royal Liberator

27. Brazil’s Independence
Portugal was governed from Brazil for 14 years.
After Napoleon’s defeat in 1815, the royal family returned to Portugal six years later.
The king’s son, Dom Pedro, stayed behind in Brazil.
It was the king’s intent to return Brazil to a colony status.
Brazil’s Independence

28. 1822- 8,000 Brazilians signed a petition asking for its independence.
They asked Dom Pedro to rule.
The King agreed to Brazil’s independence.
Bloodless Revolution