Revolutions Continue As Simon Bolivar was mobilizing volunteer

Revolutions Continue • As Simon Bolivar was mobilizing volunteer forces to root out Spanish soldiers in Venezuela, another revolutionary leader was at work in Argentina • Jose de San Martin, a creole soldier born in Argentina in 1778, defended Argentina from Spanish forces in Chile – Had initially served in Spain as an officer; left when his fortunes changed and heard that Argentina declared independence in 1816 • 1817 - San Martin led his soldiers into Chile - Defeated the remaining Spanish forces in the country, and Secured the independence for Argentina and Chile • San Martin saw that the last major Spanish stronghold was in Lima, Peru; he didn’t have enough soldiers to take the city however • Needed to make some alliances/gain some alliances

Revolutions Continue • San Martin and Bolivar meet in Guayaquil, Ecuador to discuss tactics in taking Peru from royalist/Spanish forces • San Martin offered to serve under Bolivar as a military officer; offer was refused, so San Martin resigned from the campaign – allowed Bolivar to have unchallenged command of their combined forces • Bolivar’s army, with the combined forces of both generals, defeated the Spanish in the Battle of Ayacucho in 1822 – was the last major battle of revolutionary forces in Latin America against the Spaniards – San Martin, unwilling to insert himself in the forefront of state building in the newly independent countries, goes to Europe instead • Bolivar combines Venezuela, Colombia, Panama and Ecuador into one huge territory; Gran Colombia

The Mexican Revolution • Movement for independence in Mexico was different compared to Venezuela and Argentina – Creoles led those revolutions – In Mexico, the Mestizos led the revolution • In 1810, Father Miguel Hidalgo, a priest in the village of Dolores, Mexico, gave his “The Cry of Dolores” speech – Called on his 300 churchgoers to rise up against the false Spanish king (Joseph via Napoleon) – He was a proponent of Enlightenment ideals; felt that Mestizos and Native Americans had been disenfranchised under the rule of the Peninsulares • Who had kicked/taken power from the Spanish viceroyalty when the Spanish king was deposed by Napoleon

The Mexican Revolution (Cont. ) • Indians and Mestizos are drawn Hidalgo’s message and come under his leadership; the creoles had mixed reactions (possibly ferment rebellion against the creoles • Hidalgo led an army of 80, 000 undisciplined Mestizos/Indians to march on Mexico City to secure more rights for the commoners – The Spanish army and Creoles feared the uprising; defeated Hidalgo’s army and had him executed via firing squad – They feared that they would lose their land, wealth, and lives • The Rebels rally behind Padre Jose Maria Morelos, a contemporary of Hidalgo

The Mexican Revolution (Cont. ) • Morelos leads the rebellion for 4 years until he is defeated by a creole officer, Agustin de Iturbide – was also killed via firing squad • Revolutionary elements are put on hold until 1820 – A liberal group took power in Spain (Trienio Liberal – overthrew the Spanish king) • Creoles were afraid they would lose their land, wealth, etc. with the new group in charge; they decided to declare independence from Spain