Latin American Independence Movements

Preguntas Muy Importantes

• What role did the French Revolution and then the rise of Napoleon play in the Haitian Revolution?

• What role did the social structure of New Spain play in the development of a nationalist movement?

Revolution in Haiti

Brief History of Haiti

• Island of Hispaniola• Originally settled by Spanish• Spanish abandon the western section after

problems with natives• French pirates begin settling the Western

portion of island.

Haitian Economy

• Plantations established early• By 1787 approximately 30,000 colonists in

Haiti• Profits from sugar, coffee, and indigo

industries• Slave labor critical to economy– Hard work, terrible conditions

Contributions to Revolution

• Strict social codes and separation• Slaves outnumbered freed people 10:1• Conflict between slaves and plantation

owners–Growing racial tension

• Groups of runaway called maroons• The French Revolution– Slavery ended by radicals

Toussaint Louverture• 1743-1803• Born a slave• Read many Enlightenment

works• Freed at 33• Worked for change

beginning in 1791• Deported to France 1802• Died in April 1803 from

pneumonia in Switzerland

Independent Haiti

• 1801 Constitution– Slavery restored

• November 18, 1803 French lose Battle of Battle of Vertières– Former slaves have nothing to lose

• January 1, 1804 Haiti declared independent republic

Significance of Haiti

• Second independent nation in Western Hemisphere (not a good trend for the Europeans)

• First former slave colony to be free– If actual slaves can do it…

• Many people left Haiti and settled in New Orleans

• Inspiration for slave revolts in US

Regroup

• How did Napoleon contribute to the revolution in Haiti?

• Who was the leader of the Haitian independence movement?

• What does his name mean in English?• What was his fate?

A Junta

• a governmental council or committee, especially one that rules after a revolution• Often military in nature• Especially in South and Central

America

Mexican Independence

Mexican Independence• After Napoleon puts his brother on throne

in Spain, two groups emerge• Conservatives wanted the king restored• Liberales wanted a democracy– What is the root of the word?

• Rev. Miguel Hidalgo– Grito de Dolores (Cry of Dolores)

Reverend Miguel Hidalgo• 1753-1811• Catholic priest– No previous military

experience• Began to be interested

in politics• By 1809 revolutionary• September 16, 1810:

declares independence; gives the Grito de Delores (Cry of Delores)

Events toward Independence

• Hidalgo’s army marched on Mexico City• Mexican army defeated by Spanish army– There is a clear difference between Mexican and

Spanish

• July 31, 1811: Hidalgo is executed for treason

After Hidalgo

• Rev. Jose Maria Morelos takes over– He is captured & executed as well

• War continues for ten more years. • Solemn Act of the Declaration of

Independence of Northern America signed on November 6, 1813

• Final recognition in 1821• Mexico free and independent

Revolution in Venezuela

Revolution in Venezuela

• Series of unsuccessful uprisings• After a series of unsuccessful uprisings, Francisco de

Miranda declared independence on July 5, 1811. • Venezuelan War of Independence began 1811.• earthquake in 1812 and a rebellion ended first

Venezuelan republic• Second Venezuelan republic was proclaimed on

August 7, 1813,

Simon Bolivar’s influence

• Simón Bolívar, José Antonio Páez and Antonio José de Sucre, won the Battle of Carabobo on June 24, 1821

• Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Panama together form Gran Colombia

Simon Bolivar

• 1783-1830• Helped liberate

Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Panama, and Bolivia

• Wealthy, connected family

• Educated in Spain

Simon Bolivar• Returns to Venezuela in 1807• Joins revolutionary juntas in 1808 after

Joseph Napoleon made King of Spain• Called “El Liberator”• President of Gran Colombia 1821-1830• President of Peru 1824-1825• President of Bolivia 1825-1826• Died in 1830 of Tuberculosis.

Revolution in Argentina

Steps to Independence

• News of American and French Revolutions reach Argentina

• Junta forms in Buenos Aires • Two states form: –United Provinces of South America (1810)– Liga Federal (1815)

Jose San Martin

• 1778-1850• Born in Argentina• Studied in Spain • Friends with Bernardo

O’Higgins• Fought against French

in Spain • Returned to Argentina

in 1812

Independence• Jose San Martin begins

leading battles (1814-1817)

• July 9, 1816 Official independence declared by Argentine Congress

Jose San Martin• Fought for Argentine independence• Crossed the Andes in 1817 and began

liberating Chile and Peru• July 21, 1821 named Protector of Peru• July 22, 1822 meets with Simon Bolivar• Bolivar given task of liberating Peru• Moves to France in 1824• Dies in1850

Peru and Chile

Peru’s Move Toward Independence

• 1780-1781 Native population rebels due to economic conditions

• Leader of uprising was Túpac Amaru II. • Rebellions 1812, 1814, and 1816• Spanish American landowners rebel• Leaders of rebellion are Simon Bolivar and

Jose San Martin

Independent Peru

• San Martin leads an army financed by Chile • Jose San Martin declares Peru independent

July 28, 1821 in Lima• “... From this moment on, Peru is free and

independent, by the general will of the people and the justice of its cause that God defends. Long live the homeland! Long live freedom! Long live our independence!".

After Independence

• Battle of Ayachucho in December 1824• Spanish troops defeated• Spain made attempts to regain its former

colonies• 1879 finally recognized Peruvian

independence.• Boder disputes with neighbors

Chile’s Move Toward Independence

• Movement begins with Napoleon’s placement of Joseph Bonaparte on Spain’s throne.

• Broken into Three Stages: – The Old Republic– Reconquista

The Three Stages

• Stage One: The Old Republic begins with a junta for King Ferdinand VII: September 1810

• Stage Two: Reconquista or struggle against Spanish autocracy

• Stage Three: Independence

The Reconquista

• Play on time period• Refers to re-

conquering of Spain from Muslims

• Led by Jose San Martin and Bernardo O’Higgins

• 1810: Nationalist Rebels fight Spain

• 1814: O’Higgins and supporters hide in Argentina

• 1817: junta established in Santiago

• February 12, 1817: Battle of Chacabuco

• February 12, 1818: Independent

Bernardo O’Higgins

• 1776-1842• Illegitimate son of

Viceroy of Peru• Educated in London• 1801 inherits land

from father• Moves to Chile and

becomes involved in gov’t

Bernardo O’Higgins

• 1817: Organizes a junta

• Wins Battle of Chacabuco

• February 16, 1817: Supreme Dictator

• Ruled for 6 years• January 28, 1823

Conservative Coup removes him

Battle of Chacabuco

Brazil

Background on Brazil

• Settled by the Portuguese• Treaty of Tordesillas gives Brazil to Portugal

and Spain the rest of South America• Colony of Portugal until 1822• Portugal and Brazil involved in slave trade• Diverse population with rigid class system

Events leading to Independence

• 1808 Portuguese court flees Portugal when Napoleon invades

• Center of Portuguese Empire is in Brazil• King John VI ruled Portugal and the empire

from Rio de Janeiro • 1815 Brazil is joined with Portugal in United

Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and Algarve

Independence Movement Begins

• 1821 King John VI returns to Portugal

• Leaves son Pedro in Brazil as regent of Brazil

• 1822 “Independence or Death”

• Constitutional Monarchy

Dom Pedro• Liked by common people;

not considered liberal enough by some

• Emperor of Brazil 1822- 1835

• Set up Constitution• Dissolved Assembly in 1823• Abdicated in 1831 for his

son Pedro II