1. Latin American Revolutions
Between 1790 and 1825 nearly all of the colonial areas of Latin America fight for and win their independence from their European colonial parent countries

2. Causes for Latin American Wars for Independence
Colonial social class system based on race caused resentment
Mercantilist policies by the parent countries in Europe angered the colonists
Enlightenment ideas and the American and French Revolutions influenced Latin American revolutions
Napoleon’s wars unseat the monarchs of Spain and Portugal

3. Haiti
In 1791, 100,000 enslaved Africans rose up against their masters on the island of Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic)
Toussaint L’Ouverture, a former slave led the rebellion and took control of the island
L’Ouverture was captured by the French and imprisoned
the colony (Haiti) became free by 1804

4. Mexico Father Hidalgo led the first uprising against Spain in Mexico
Grito de Dolores, a famous speech by the priest rallied the poor peasants to rebellion
Hidalgo was caught and executed by Spain

5. Mexico
Father Morelos took up the fight against Spain next after Hidalgo
Father Morelos was captured and killed
Finally, Iturbide, who had helped defeat Morelos for Spain declared Mexico’s independence in 1821

6. Brazil
The creoles refused to accept their colonial status and petitioned Dom Pedro, the king’s son to declare Brazil’s independence
He did just that in 1822
In 1807, Napoleon invaded Portugal and King John (Port) fled to his colony Brazil
There, King John ruled his Portuguese empire for many years
When Napoleon was defeated the king returned to Portugal and declared Brazil a colony once again

7. South America
Simon Bolivar, a native of Venezuela, declared independence from Spain in 1811
Bolivar fought the Spanish with his volunteer army for the next 10 years
Victory came when Bolivar’s troops met Jose de San Martin in 1821

8. South America
Jose de San Martin, of Argentina, fought the Spanish in southern South America (Argentina, Chile)
De San Martin left his troops for Bolivar to command and the Spanish lost their final battle to them in Ayacucho (Peru)