Causes of Latin AmericanRevolutions

1. Inspired by Enlightenment ideas

2. Creole discontent

3. Motivated by the “successful” American and French Revolutions.

4. Napoleonic Wars Preoccupy Spain & Portugal in fighting in war in Europe

5. Taken advantage of by Europeans via economic policies which benefited Europe at the expense of the native Latin Americans

Latin American Revolutions!

Latin American Revolutions!

First Colony to revolt…HaitiHome Country: French colony

Date of Independence: 1804

Independence Leaders:

- Toussiant-Louverture (former slave)

- Jean-Jaques Dessalines (Toussaint’s general)

Haitian Independence:

1791= slave revolt

1801= Toussaint seized 2/3 of Haiti (frees slaves)

1802= French troops arrive & agreement made

to stop revolution

1804= Dessalines starts revolution again and

declares independence

Home Country: Spanish colony

Date of Independence: 1816

Independence Leaders:

- Jose de San Martin

(Spanish military officer)

Argentiaian Independence:

1816= Creole colonist rebel & seize government

in a bloodless revolution

1816= Martin declares Argentina independent!

Argentina

The “Muscle” of the RevolutionBolivar

coming from the North.

José de St. Martín and Bernard O’Higgins cross the Andes Mountains.

Home Country: Spanish colony

Date of Independence: 1817

Independence Leaders:

- Jose de San Martin (Spanish military officer)

- Bernard O’Higgins (military officer)

Chile Independence:

1817= San Martin leads his army across the

Andes and spreads revolution into Chile

1817= Joins forces with O’Higgins & defeat Spanish;

declares Chile independent!

Chile

Simón Bolivar:

The “Brains”of theRevolution Creole leader of

the revolutions in Venezuela.

Spent time in Europe and the newly-independent United States.

Home Country: Spanish colony

Date of Independence: 1821/1822

Independence Leaders:

- Simon Bolivar (Venezulan Creole

/military general)

Gran Columbia Independence:

1811= Venezuela declares independence!

1811-1821= Revolution vs. Spain

1821= Bolivar wins independence!

1821= Revolution spreads to Columbia & Ecuador

1822= Bolivar elected president; the new nation

called Gran Columbia established

Venezuela, Columbia, and Ecuador

Bolivar’s Accomplishment

Simón Bolivar & José de San Martin Join Forces!

Home Country: Spanish colony

Date of Independence: 1824

Independence Leaders:

- Jose de San Martin (Spanish military officer)

- Simon Bolivar (Venezuelan Creole/military general)

Peruvian Independence:

1821= San Martin takes revolution to Spanish in Peru

1822= San Martin & Bolivar join forces to fight Spanish

1822= San Martin leaves for Europe

1822= Bolivar defeats Spanish at Battle of Ayacucho

Peru

Home Country: Spanish colony

Date of Independence: 1825

Independence Leaders:

- Simon Bolivar (Venezuelan Creole/milit. general)

Bolivian Independence:

1824= Bolivar continues revolution by driving out the

remaining Spanish from Peru

1825= Upper & Lower Peru separate; Lower Peru

named Bolivia (after Bolivar)

Bolivia

Home Country: Portuguese colony

Date of Independence: 1822

Independence Leaders:

- Dom Joao aka King John

(King of Portugal)

- Dom Pedro

(son of King John)

Brazillian Independence:

1807= King John flees to Brazil to escape Napoleon

1815= Napoleon defeated; King John heads back

1822= Brazilian creoles seek independence

1822= Brazilian creoles request Dom Pedro take

over Brazil as ruler; King John agrees!

Brazil

Home Country: Spanish colony

Date of Independence: 1821

Independence Leaders:

- Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla (priest; leader of revolution)

- Jose Maria Morelos y Pavon (priest & rebel leader)

- General Augustin de Ituribe (Creole officer)

- Venustiano Carranza (1st President of Mexico)

Mexican Independence:

1810= Costilla starts rebellion against Spanish

1811= Costilla defeated, captured, and executed

1811= Pavon leads Mexican Revolution (next 4 years)

1815= Ituribe helps Spanish defeat Pavon

1821= Ituribe turns on Spanish & makes peace with

Pavon & declares Mexican independence!

Mexico

No Unity! Failure of Bolivar’s dream for a

united South America =

$ Civil wars erupt in many newly independent countries.

Geographic barriers (mts., the Amazon, etc.) and vast distances between lands

Cultural differences defeated attempts at unification

Geographic & Cultural Issues

Independence Brought Poverty!

The wars disrupted trade.

The wars devastated the cities and the countryside.

Caudillos take Over!

WHO WERE THEY?:

$ military dictators who seize power via coup

$ Mostly wealthy “creole” aristocrats.

$ Followed the fight for independence.

$ Posed as reformers.

$ BUT…once in power overthrew govt. & took away basic human rights.

$ Attempted improvements, but most just cared about themselves,their families and their friends [nepotism].

Dependence on Foreign Nations

Foreign nations needed for investments and capital

What is the Message?