LATIN AMERICAN REVOLUTIONS
Essential Question:
What were the main causes and effects of Latin American revolutions?
From 1500 to 1800, �Latin America was colonized by Europe, especially Spain
European nations used mercantilism to gain wealth from their American colonies
Catholic missionaries from Spain and France converted Indians
One major impact of European colonization was the unequal social hierarchy in Latin America
White Europeans were at the top of society
Peninsulares were royal governors who were born in Spain; they were sent by the king to enforce mercantilism and maintain order in the colony
White Europeans were at the top of society
Spanish colonists who were NOT born in Spain and were living in America were called creoles; they had land and wealth, but had no political power
The lack of European women in America led to intermarriage with Indians and Africans; from this, there came a large mixed-race population that made up the next level of the social hierarchy
Mestizos were the offspring of Europeans and Indians
Mulattos were the offspring of Europeans and Africans
Indians and Africans made up the bottom of the social hierarchy
Indians and Africans were used as slave workers for creoles plantations
From 1800 to 1830, Latin American colonies began declaring independence from European nations and establishing democracies throughout the Americas
Quick Class Discussion:
Creoles in South America
African slaves in Haiti
Indians in Mexico
By the late 1700s, �Latin Americans were inspired to gain independence because of the success of the American and French Revolutions
The ideas of the Enlightenment inspired independence especially among the well-educated creole class
Haiti was the first Latin American colony to free itself from European rule
Haiti was a French colony with 500,000 African slaves working on sugar and coffee plantations
Plantation owners used brutal methods to control slaves
In 1791, Haitian slaves rose in revolt; Toussaint L’Ouverture became the leader of the slave uprising and helped free all the slaves by 1801
From 1802 to 1804, Haitians fought for their independence against Napoleon’s French army
In 1804, France granted Haiti its independence and created a republic
Throughout the Spanish colonies in South America, the creoles had wealth and education but could not participate in government
Creoles embraced Enlightenment ideas like natural rights and �consent of the governed
In 1810, the demand by creoles for political rights led to revolutions throughout South America
South American nations gained their independence because of the leadership of two creole generals
From 1811 to 1824, Venezuelan creole Simon Bolivar led an army of revolutionaries against Spain
Bolivar helped create new nations of Gran Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia
Argentinean creole San Martín led the independence movement in southern South America
San Martín helped create new nations of Argentina, Chile and Peru
Unlike the South America creoles, in Mexico the Indians and mestizos played the leading role
In 1810, a poor but well educated Catholic priest named Miguel Hidalgo used Enlightenment ideals to call for a revolution against Spain
Hidalgo led an army of 80,000 �Indian and mestizo revolutionaries against the Spanish military and creoles who feared losing their wealth
During the rebellion, Hidalgo was killed but Mexicans found new leaders to continue the fight another 10 years
The turning point in the war came in 1820 when the creoles switched sides and joined the revolt against Spain
In 1821, Spain granted Mexico its independence and a republic was formed
Throughout Latin America, new democratic republics were created
However, Latin Americans did not have a history of self-government and many of the new governments were unstable
In many nations, military dictators called caudillos seized power and made few reforms for citizens
Latin American nations (like Mexico) became dependent on the United States of America for protection from European nations