Factors Contributing to the Movements of Independence in Spanish America
Outline and discuss the main factors contributing to the movements of independence in Spanish America.
The main factors contributing to the movements of independence in Spanish America can be seen to be influenced by international and domestic events, together with economic and socio-political conditions. These themes will be examined in considerable detail in this essay, together with the historical background which provides the foundation stone on which all movements of independence find their roots and ensures the uniqueness of each movement. The movements for independence were unique but equally many of the factors contributing to the movement are mirrored to a greater or lesser extent.
The Enlightenment, which can be noted as a main factor which contributed to the movements of independence in Spanish America, was an era which focused mainly on philosophy, economics and science. The Enlightenment commenced in the middle of the 17th century and came to a close in 1815 after Napoleonic wars. Carl Becker said that “The Enlightenment was an International climate of opinion”. This argument can be supported because by the end of the 18th century, the colonial system was based mainly around Enlightenment thinking, which promoted the power of human reason. The Spanish empire was very much set on conveying the ideas of modern science and bringing these ideas into Spanish America. They did this in the provinces of Peru, New Granada and Mexico, where botanical and mining missions were sent. As a result of these missions, by the end of the colonial period, all factors of the Enlightenment in Spain could be seen in Spanish America. The Enlightenment familiarized the habitants who were affected by it, to the message that the idea of change was a normal process. This included change from “dangerous, damaging or demeaning” actions to the human condition, which they believed could be cured by the correct function of the power of the mind.
By the end of the 18th
The main factors contributing to the movements of independence in Spanish America can be seen to be influenced by international and domestic events, together with economic and socio-political conditions. These themes will be examined in considerable detail in this essay, together with the historical background which provides the foundation stone on which all movements of independence find their roots and ensures the uniqueness of each movement. The movements for independence were unique but equally many of the factors contributing to the movement are mirrored to a greater or lesser extent.
The Enlightenment, which can be noted as a main factor which contributed to the movements of independence in Spanish America, was an era which focused mainly on philosophy, economics and science. The Enlightenment commenced in the middle of the 17th century and came to a close in 1815 after Napoleonic wars. Carl Becker said that “The Enlightenment was an International climate of opinion”. This argument can be supported because by the end of the 18th century, the colonial system was based mainly around Enlightenment thinking, which promoted the power of human reason. The Spanish empire was very much set on conveying the ideas of modern science and bringing these ideas into Spanish America. They did this in the provinces of Peru, New Granada and Mexico, where botanical and mining missions were sent. As a result of these missions, by the end of the colonial period, all factors of the Enlightenment in Spain could be seen in Spanish America. The Enlightenment familiarized the habitants who were affected by it, to the message that the idea of change was a normal process. This included change from “dangerous, damaging or demeaning” actions to the human condition, which they believed could be cured by the correct function of the power of the mind.
By the end of the 18th