The Wars of Independence in Latin America

The Wars of Independence in Latin America

• Rebellions between 1804-1824
• Colonial govt. ended in S. America
• Haiti revolt o led by Toussaint L'Ouverture and Jean-Jacques Dessalines o Merchant, landowner, professional class participated (Creole elite) o Natives and blacks didn't as much
• Discontentment of Creoles o Slave revolts in Andes, scared Creoles o Angry w/Spanish govt.
 Taxes too high
 Trade limits
• Peninsulares-whites born in Spain o Got the best positions o Hated by most
• Creoles dividing Spain o Afraid France controlled Spain too much, to get Latin American wealth o Decided to divide Latin America into states o Ended peninsulares' privileges o Spain broke away, under Fernando VII o Creoles had more privileges
• Rio de la Plata (modern Argentina) o Centered around Buenos Aires o 1810-Spanish authority taken away, including Paraguay & Uruguay o Armies defeated
• San Martin o Leading general of these forces o Lead Andes mountain march o 1817- occupied Santiago in Chile o "Protector of Peru"
• Simon Bolivar o 1810-liberations in Caracas, Venezuela o Republican govt. & independence favored o 1811-1814 Civil War in Venezuela
 Royalists vs. slaves and llaneros (Venezuelan cowboys)
 Exiled to Columbia then Jamaica o 1816 invasion w/Haiti of Venezuela o 1821 captured Caracas, became president o 1822 joined San Martin to liberate Quito
 San Martin=monarchism, Bolivar=republicanism
 San Martin went into exile in Europe o Dec. 9, 1824 Battle of Ayacucho
 Spanish royalists are defeated

• Independence in New Spain o Outcome of Latin American colonial revolution o Miguel Hidalgo called for an Indian rebellion
 Wanted social change
 Had 80 thousand followers to capture cities
 Executed in 1811 o Morelos was new leader
 More radical
 Executed in 1815 o Demand for reform in Mexico
 1820 Ferdinand VII