1. Latin American Revolution
Unit 7

2. Setting the Stage
The French ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity inspired many Latin Americans to rise up against their French, Spanish, and Portuguese masters
An important effect on Latin America as a result of the American and French revolutions were independence movements began against colonial rule

3. Revolution in Haiti
French colony of Saint Domingue was the first Latin American territory to free itself from European ruler. Now known as Haiti
Nearly 500,000 enslaved Africans made up the majority of the population
Most worked on plantations

4. An African priest, Boukman, called for a revolution
Led by Toussaint L’Ouverture, an ex-slave, he rose to become a skilled general and diplomat
He moved into Spanish territory of St. Domingo and freed the slaves.
French troops landed and accused Toussaint of planning another uprising, seized him and put him in a French prison where he later died
Toussiant’s general, Jean-Jacques Dessalines, took up the fight
Declared the colony an independent country (the 1st black colony to free itself from European control), he called it Haiti

5. Latin America sweeps to freedom
Society sharply divided into classes based on birth
Peninsulares: men who had been born in Spain, could hold the high office in Spanish colonial gov.
Creoles: Spaniards born in Latin America, could no hold high level political office, but could rise as officers in the army
Mestizos: persons of mixed European and Indian ancestry
Mulattos: Persons of mixed European and African ancestry
Africans
Indians

6. Events in Europe Trigger Latin American Revolutions
Napoleon’s conquest of Spain in 1808 finally triggered revolts in the Spanish colonies.
After he had removed Spain’s King Ferdinand VII, Napoleon made his bother Joseph, King of Spain
Creoles argued when the real king was removed, power shifted to the people

7. The Libertadores end Spanish Rule
Simon Bolivar, a wealthy creole, was influenced by the American and French Revolutions: He adopted Enlightenment ideals and began revolutions against Spanish authority.
Bolivar’s army suffered numerous defeats, but it took the Spanish by surprise in Bogota
1821, Bolivar had won Venezuela its independence

8. With unified forces, Bolivar’s army went on to defeat the Spanish
Jose Francisco de San Martin’s Argentine had declared its independence in 1816
However, Spanish armies in nearby Chile and Peru still posed a threat so San Martin led his army to Chile
He helped free Chile
San Martin and Bolivar met up and San Martin left Bolivar in command of his forces.
With unified forces, Bolivar’s army went on to defeat the Spanish
He freed Ecuador, Peru, and a country named Bolivia after him.

10. Mexico ends Spanish rule
1810 Padre Miguel Hidalgo, a priest in the small village of Dolores, took the first steps towards revolution
He firmly believed in the Enlightenment ideals
Indian and mestizo followers marched towards Mexico City
The Spanish army and creoles joined forces and defeated Hidalgo on 1811
Rebels rallied behind Padre Jose Morelos who led the revolution for 4 years
Defeated by creole officer, Agustin de Iturbide
Declares independence from Spain in 1821

11. Brazil’s Royal Liberator
Brazil’s quest for independence was unique
As Napoleon’s troops approached Lisbon, the Portuguese capital, Prince John (Later King John VI) and the royal family boarded ships to escape capture.
They sailed to Portugal’s largest colony, Brazil
For 14 years, Brazil was the center of of the Portuguese empire
After Napoleon’s defeat in 1815, the Portuguese government wanted Brazil to go back to a colony
1822, creoles demanded independence, signed a petition asking Dom Pedro, King John’s son, to rule. He agreed.
Sept , Brazil officially declared independent through a bloodless revolution

13. Independence brings disunity
Throughout Latin America, independence actually brought an increase in poverty
The wars had disrupted trade and devastated cities and countryside
After all the destruction, the dream of a united Latin America quickly fell apart.