1. Independence for Latin America
Chapter 8.3
Independence for Latin America

2. Revolutionary Ideas Spread
Ideas of American Revolution and French Revolution inspire colonists in Latin America
Social classes (highest to lowest):
Peninsulares – people born in Spain
Creoles – Spaniards born in Latin America
Mestizo
Mulatto – people w/European and African heritage
African slaves
Native Indians

3. Revolutionary Ideas Spread
Only peninsulares could be gvt. officials
Creoles could be officers in military
St. Domingue = 1st free Latin American colony (1804)
Toussaint L’Ouverture (former slave) leads slave revolt
After victory, country’s name changed to Haiti

4. Creoles Lead Independence
Napoleon’s installation of his brother as king of Spain inspires further change
Creoles would support Spanish king but not king put on throne by the French
Creoles refer to Locke’s ideas of government
What were Locke’s ideas?
Government comes from the consent of the people
When a new king was named the people had a right to revolt because the people didn’t want it

5. Creoles Lead Independence
Simon Bolivar leads independence from Venezuela (takes 10 yrs. from )
Defeats Spanish army in Columbia then marches to Ecuador – meets up with Jose de San Martin
Jose de San Martin leads independence of Argentina (1816) then brings army to Chile to free it (1817).
San Martin meets up with Bolivar and both armies march to Peru and defeat the Spanish (1824)

6. Mexican Independence
Miguel Hidalgo – priest who begins call for Mexican independence
Hidalgo leads march of 80,000 to Mexico City (1810)
Spanish creoles & army defeat Hidalgo
Mexican creoles worried about losing privileges when liberal leaders rule Spain – creoles and poor unite (1820)
Region of present-day Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica declare independence from Mexico in 1823

7. Brazil’s Independence
Napoleon wants to prevent Britain from trading with Portugal
King John & family go into exile in Brazil (1807)
1821 King John returns to Portugal – his son, Dom Pedro stays in Brazil
King John wants to make Brazil a colony again
Brazilians protest and request independence and want Dom Pedro to be ruler
Brazil gains independence in bloodless revolution in 1822

8. Map of
Latin America