The Latin American Wars of Independence were the revolutions that took place during the late 18th and early 19th centuries and resulted in the creation of a number of independent countries in Latin America.
Latin America Latin America is a group of countries and dependencies in the Americas where Romance languages are predominant. 20 sovereign states and several territories make up Latin America, comprising nearly 13% of the Earth's total land surface area
Cultural Blending in Latin America Peninsulares: Whites from Spain Creoles: Whites born in the Americas Native Americans African Slaves Four racial categories: Whites, Blacks, Mestizo (a mix of White and American Indian) and Mulatto ( a mix of White and Black). Transculturation would manifest itself in food, secular music and fashion. ¼ of all Latin Americans were of mixed race at the start of the Revolutions.
Latin American Revolutions--Causes The Latin American revolutions followed the American and French Revolutions, which had profound effects on the Spanish, Portuguese and French colonies in the Americas. Haiti, a French slave colony, was the first to follow the United States to independence, during the Haitian Revolution, which lasted from 1791 to 1804. From this emerged Napoleon Bonaparte as French ruler, whose armies set out to conquer Europe, including Spain and Portugal in 1808.
Peninsular War The Peninsular War (1807 14) was a military conflict between Napoleon's empire and the allied powers of Spain, Britain and Portugal for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars.
Peninsular War Regarding Spain and its colonies, in May 1808, Napoleon captured Carlos IV and King Fernando VII and installed his own brother, Joseph Bonaparte on the Spanish Throne. This pivotal point greatly disrupted the political stability of both Spain and its colonies. Spanish Creoles in Spanish America questioned their allegiance to Spain, stoking independence movements.
Brazilian Independence At the same time, the Portuguese monarchy relocated to Brazil during Portugal's French occupation. After the royal court returned to Lisbon, the prince regent, Pedro, remained in Brazil and in 1822 successfully declared himself emperor of a newly independent Brazil.
Brazil Brazil achieved Independence with minimal bloodshed. Brazil maintained its social hierarchy which included an upper creole class and having slavery. Brazil would be the last Latin American country to abolish it in the late 19 th century
Juntas Cities throughout Spain and its colonies in America each formed governing bodies primarily consisting of local elites. These ruling local elites were called juntas and their underlying principal in taking power over their communities was that "in absence of the king, Fernando VII, their sovereignty devolved temporarily back to the community."
Popular Sovereignty Popular sovereignty or the sovereignty of the people's rule, is the principle that the authority of a state and its government is created and sustained by the consent of its people, through their elected representatives (Rule by the People), who are the source of all political power.
Enlightenment Thinking Other causes included Enlightenment thinking. The Enlightenment spurred the desire for social and economic reform to spread throughout Latin America and the Iberian Peninsula. Ideas about free trade and the value of land ownership and management were raised by the Enlightenment.
Mexico (New Spain) The Spanish creoles in this region wanted to maintain a divine-right monarchy and avoid the liberal ideas of enlightenment being pushed on them by Napoleon. They supported a peasant uprising led by renegade priest Padre Hidalgo to resist the Peninsulares. Confusing Creoles and Peninsulares (since they were both White and acted the same) this peasant rebellion failed.
Father Morelos A second peasant uprising led by Father Morelos was more successful but he was not supported by the creoles since he was Mestizo and would be ultimately killed. In 1820, Spain would write a new constitution resulting from a liberal movement limiting power in the Church.
Mexican Independence Mexican elites joined forces with local creoles to maintain their power and seek independence from Spain. Agustín de Iturbide and Vicente Guerrero led this successful revolution in 1820. The Peninsulares would return to Spain. Iturbide tried to run Mexico as a King but was overthrown by the military and Mexico was declared a republic.
Mexican Independence The peasants did benefit from the newly found Independence. The revolution had been based on the elites desire to maintain their economic superiority and position.
Unholy Alliances Conservative land-owning elites and their relationship to the military would be a huge roadblock for movements towards economic equality in Latin American countries.
Venezuela Local creole revolutionaries had formed a junta and created a Republic. It was resisted by the Llaneros who were cowboys loyal to the King.
Simon Bolivar Revolutionary leader called the Libertador tried to unite all South Americans as South Americans. He convinced the Llaneros to fight against Spain for Independence. He freed the areas of Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador.
Jose de Martin and Latin American Independence Argentinian leader Jose de Martin was also instrumental in Chile and Peru. In 1824, the last Spanish viceroy was captured and all of Latin America was independent from Europe. After 300 years of Spanish and Portuguese rule Latin America was finally free.
Positive Results of Latin American Revolutions Highlighted the idea of popular sovereignty. No longer under the control of European powers. Division of Latin America into individual states. They saw themselves as distinct nations. This would happen later in Europe.
Negative Results of Latin American Revolutions Rigid social hierarchies with wealthy creoles remained in power. The Catholic Church remained very powerful. Patriarchy remained a powerful force in Latin American Culture. Women did not receive the right to vote in Mexico until 1953. Marked by bloody long battles 425,000 Mexicans died in their struggle for independence. 1,000,000 died in Venezuela. Latin American countries have struggled to protect land owning rights of the poor and their equality, freedom and autonomy.