Latin American Peoples Win Independence

1. Latin American Peoples Win Independence Chapter 8 Section 1

2. Main Idea • Spurred by discontent and Enlightenment ideas, peoples in Latin America fought colonial rule. • Sixteen of today’s Latin American nations gained their independence at this time.

3. Present Day Latin America

4. Introduction • Ideas changed about who should control the government due to the American Revolution, French Revolution and the Enlightenment. • Ideas of liberty, equality and democratic rule made their way to the European colonies. • Latin American colonies resented European colonial powers. • Colonists decided to gain control of their land.

5. Colonial Society Divided • Class dictated peoples place in society and their jobs. • How does this compare to our society today? • Latin American colonies were divided into five main groups: • Peninsulares • Creoles • Mestizos • Mulattos • Indians

6. Peninsulares • Born in Spain • Small percentage of population • Only group that could hold a high governmental office

7. Creoles • Spaniards born in Latin America • Ranked below peninsulares • Could not hold a high political office • Could rise as officers in the army

8. Mestizos • Ranked below peninsulares and creoles • Mixed European and Indian ancestry Mulattos • Mixed European and African ancestry Indians • Bottom of social ladder

9. Revolutions in the Americas • News of the American and French Revolution had spread to the colonies. • The success of the American Revolution encouraged them to try to gain freedom from the European masters.

10. Revolution in Haiti • Saint Domingue – FirstEuropean colony to free itself from European rule. • N/K/A – Haiti • French colony • 500,000 African slaves worked on French plantations • Greatly outnumbered their masters • Brutal methods were used to keep the slaves powerless.

11. During the French Revolution • The oppressed people of Haiti rose up against their French masters. • August 1791 – 100,000 enslaved Africans rose in revolt. • Leader – Toussaint L’Ouverture • Took control of the entire island and freed all the enslaved Africans • January 1792 – 30,000 French came to Saint Domingue to remove Toussaint from power.

12. Haitian Revolution

13. Toussaint L’Ouverture • Toussaint agreed to stop the revolution IF the French would end slavery. • The French agreed. • However, the French sent him away to die in prison.

14. Haiti’s Independence • Toussaint’s lieutenant – Jean-Jacques Dessalines • Continued to fight for freedom. • January 1, 1804 – Dessalines declared Haiti an independent country. • First black colony to free itself from European rule.

15. Questions • What are Peninsulares? • What are Creoles? • How many classes of people were there in Latin American colonial society? • Who emerged as the leader of enslaved Africans in the Saint Domingue revolt? • What does the word Haiti mean?

16. Creoles Lead Independence • Creoles were the least oppressed of those born in Latin America. • Well-educated • Traveled to Europe to be educated. • Brought back ideas of the revolution with them.

17. Napoleon and Spain • Napoleon removed Spain’s king and made his brother king. • Creoles considered the new king as French and did not support his rule. • Creoles justified their actions with Locke’s idea of consent of the governed. • Since king was removed, power shifted to the people. • Rebellion broke out.

18. Simon Bolivar • Creole general, from Venezuela • Venezuela declared its independence from Spain in 1811. • Spain wouldn’t accept the declaration. • Bolivar led an victorious army and by 1821, Venezuela was independent.

19. Jose de San Martin • Creolegeneral, from Argentina • Declared Argentina’s independence in 1816. • San Martin freed Chile. • Devised a plan with Bolivar to free Peru.

20. Bolivar leads San Martin’s Army • Pursuant to their agreement, San Martin left his army for Bolivar to lead. • Defeated the Spanish in 1824. • This was the last battle in the war for independence. • The Spanish colonies won their freedom. • The future countries of Venezuela, Colombia, Panama and Ecuador became known as the Gran Colombia.

21. Mexico Ends Spanish Rule • In most Latin America countries, creoles led the revolutionary movements. • In Mexico, however, ethnic and racial groups mixed more freely. • Indians and mestizos played the leading role in revolutionary movements.

22. A Cry for Freedom • 1810 – Padre Miguel Hidalgo took the first step toward independence. • Hidalgo firmly believed in Enlightenmentideas. • Rang his church bells to gather a crowd on September 16, 1810. • When the peasants gathered, he called for a rebellion against the Spanish.

23. March toward Mexico City • The next day, 80,000 Indian and mestizo followers marched toward Mexico City. • This uprising of the lower classes alarmed the Spanish army and creoles. • Feared loss of land, control and their lives. • Army defeated Hidalgo in 1811.

24. Mexico’s Independence • 1820 – Spain put a liberal group in power in Mexico. • Creoles feared loss of their privileges. • They united in support of Mexico’s independence. • Mexico proclaimed independence in 1821.

25. Central America • Central America had been governed by Spain. • 1821 – several Central American states declared their independence from Spain. • The emperor of Mexico refused to recognize the declaration. • 1823 – emperor was overthrown. • Became known as Provinces of Central America: Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Costa Rica.

26. Brazil’s Royal Liberator • Brazil’s request for independence was unusual. • It did not involve violence. • 1807 – Napoleon’s armies invaded both Spain and Portugal to close the ports to British shipping. • The royal family boarded ships to Brazil to escape capture. • Made Rio de Janeiro the capital of Brazil.

27. Brazil’s Independence • Portugal was governed from Brazil for 14 years. • After Napoleon’s defeat in 1815, the royal family returned to Portugal six years later. • The king’s son, Dom Pedro, stayed behind in Brazil. • It was the king’s intent to return Brazil to a colony status.

28. Bloodless Revolution • 1822- 8,000 Brazilians signed a petition asking for its independence. • They asked Dom Pedro to rule. • The King agreed to Brazil’s independence.

29. Questions • Name the group that led to the nationalist movement in Latin America. • Why were people inspired to follow Padre Miguel Hidalgo in his rebellion? • What is the rebellion on September 16, 1810 known as? • Describe the difference in the liberations of Brazil and Mexico.