LATIN AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE Latin American Society 6 groups

LATIN AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE

Latin American Society • 6 groups • 2 power groups • Controlled land, wealth, and power in Spanish colonies 1. Peninsulares- people born in Spain • Tiny part of population • Held high offices in Spanish colonial government 2. Creoles- Spanish people born in Latin America • No political office, BUT could be officers in Spanish colonial army 3. Mestizos- European/Indian mixed 4. Mulattos- European/African mixed 5. Enslaved Africans 6. Indians

Revolution in Haiti • St. Domingue (Haiti)- 1 st Latin American colony to free itself from European rule • 500, 000 enslaved Africans worked French plantations in Haiti • 1791 (during French Rev. )- 100, 000 slaves rose up in revolt • Toussaint L’Ouverture • Formerly enslaved • Unfamiliar w/ military & diplomatic matters • Became skilled general • Took over island & freed all enslaved Africans • Napoleon sent troops to stop Rev. • Toussaint captured & sent to French prison in Alps • 1804 - Jean-Jacques Dessalines • Declared Haiti’s independence

Creoles Lead Independence • Least oppressed • Best educated- traveled to Europe to study & came back with new ideas • Napoleon’s invasion of Spain caused revolts in Spanish colonies • Napoleon removed Spanish King & placed his brother as King • Felt no loyalty to foreign King (wasn’t Spanish) • 2 most famous creoles 1. Simon Bolivar 2. Jose de San Marin

Simon Bolivar • Wealthy Venezuelan creole • 1811 - Venezuela declares independence • Led volunteer army & was defeated several times • 1819 - turning point • Led army of 2, 000 through Andes Mts. (Colombia) • Ambushed Spanish army & won major victory • 1821 he won Venezuela’s independence • Marched south to Ecuador to meet Jose de San Martin

Jose de San Martin • Creole from Argentina • 1816 - Argentina declared/won independence • Spain still controlled Chile & Peru • Chile-1817 • San Martin marched his army across the Andes to Chile • Joined forces with Bernardo O’Higgins • Fought together to free Chile • Peru • Agrees to let Bolivar command his army • Defeats Spanish in Peru & gains its independence in 1824 • Future countries of Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, & Ecuador united to form a country called “Gran Colombia”

Miguel Hidalgo • Catholic priest in a small village (Mexico) • 1810 rang bells of his church and gathered all the peasants to start a rebellion against Spain • 80, 000 men marched toward Mexico City • Spanish army & creoles feared losing property and land fought back • Hidalgo was defeated in 1811 • Started the push for Mexican independence

Mexico’s Independence • 1820 - Spanish Rev. placed liberal group in control of Spain • Mexican creoles feared loss of privileges • Rallied together & declared their independence from Spain • Agustin de Iturbide • Declared & won independence from Spain in 1821 • Became dictator • Central America • Declared independence from Spain & Mexico • Iturbide refused to recognize declarations & was overthrown • 1823 gained independence • Named “United Provinces of Central America” • Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, & Costa Rica

Brazil’s Independence • Gained independence without fighting • Helped by royal family in Portugal • 1807 - Napoleon invaded Spain & Portugal • French troops neared Lisbon (Portuguese capital) • Royal family loaded ships with their court & royal treasury • Moved capital of Portugal to Brazil (largest Portuguese colony) • Rio de Janiero became capital of Portugal • Independence • Portuguese royal family returned home in 1821 • Dom Pedro- King John’s son remained in Brazil • King John wanted Brazil to become a colony again • 8, 000 creoles signed a petition asking Dom Padre to grant independence • 1822 - Dom Padre grants Brazil independence from Portugal