Chapter 4: Revolutions in Europe and Latin America
Section 3: Revolts in Latin America
The revolutionary fever spreads to Latin America (Late 1700s)
Why?
Only Spanish-born peninsulares, members of the highest social class, could hold top jobs in government and the Church.
Many creoles—the European-descended Latin Americans bitterly resented their second-class status even though they had wealth.
The mestizos and mulattoes were angry at being denied the status, wealth, and power that were available to whites.
In the Caribbean region and parts of South America, masses of enslaved Africans who worked on plantations longed for freedom.
Significant Figures:
Describe the following people’s revolutionary role in Latin America
Simon Bolivar
Traveled in Europe and were inspired by the ideals of “liberty, equality, and fraternity.”
But most creoles were reluctant to act.
Credited with leading the fight for independence in what are now the countries of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Panama and Bolivia, he is revered as a hero in these countries and throughout much of the rest of Latin America.
Napoleon
Napoleon’s invasion of Spain in 1808 started the revolution fever in Latin America.
Napoleon ousted the Spanish king and placed his brother Joseph on the Spanish throne.
In Latin America, leaders saw Spain’s weakness as an opportunity to reject foreign domination and demand independence from colonial rule.
Toussaint L’Ouverture
Toussaint was a brilliant general and inspiring commander.
Toussaint’s army of former slaves faced many enemies. Some mulattoes joined French planters against the rebels. France, Spain, and Britain all sent armies against them. The fighting took more lives than any other revolution in the Americas.
In 1798, the rebels had achieved their goal: slavery was abolished, and Toussaint’s forces controlled most of the island (Haiti).
In 1802, Napoleon Bonaparte sent a large army to reconquer the former colony.
In April 1802 the French agreed to a truce, but then they captured Toussaint and imprisoned him where he died a year later.
In 1803, the yellow fever destroyed the French army.
In January 1804, the island declared itself an independent country under the name Haiti.
Finally, in 1820, Haiti became a republic.
Critical Thinking
1. Why did the Creoles in Mexico refuse to support Miguel Hidalgo’s call for revolt?
Because Hidalgo called for an end to slavery and he plead for reforms to improve conditions for Native Americans. The Creoles felt that these policies would cost them power.
2. What did Father Jose Morelos want for Mexico?
He wanted to improve conditions for the majority of Mexicans, abolish slavery, and give the vote to all men.
3. What was Iturbide’s motive for wanting independence for Mexico?
He feared that the new Spanish government might impose liberal reforms on the colonies, which would cause a loss of power for him.
4. Which South Americans countries gained independence due to Simon Bolivar’s effort?
Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia.
5. Which South Americans countries were liberated under the leadership of Jose San Martin?
Argentina, Chile, and Peru.
6. Why was Bolivar disappointed with the results of the revolutions in South America?
Bolívar then worked tirelessly to unite the lands he had liberated into a single nation, called Gran Colombia, but split into four independent countries: Colombia, Panama, Venezuela, and Ecuador.
Also, power struggles among rival leaders triggered destructive civil wars. Before his death in 1830, a discouraged Bolívar wrote, “We have achieved our independence at the expense of everything else.” Unfortunately, South America’s common people had simply changed one set of masters for another.
7. What was the advice that Dom Pedro’s father gave him about independence in Brazil? Was it a good advice?
In 1822, Dom Pedro’s father said if the people of Brazil wanted independence, “proclaim it yourself and put the crown on your own head.”
It was a good advice as Brazil remained a monarchy until 1889, when social and political turmoil led it to become a republic.
