Latin America’s Enlightened Latin America’s Enlightened Revolutionary LeadersRevolutionary Leaders

Enlightenment liberal Idealists:Enlightenment liberal Idealists:Miguel de Hidalgo-priestMiguel de Hidalgo-priest

Simon Bolivar-Grand ColombiaSimon Bolivar-Grand ColombiaBenito Juárez-Mexico’s liberal Benito Juárez-Mexico’s liberal

reformerreformerJosé de San Martín:José de San Martín:

Domingo F. SarmientoDomingo F. Sarmiento

José de San Martín José de San Martín (1778 – (1778 – 1850)1850)

• One of the major liberators of South America from Spanish rule

• He is also known as Argentina's liberator, and was one of the principal revolutionary fighters against royalist forces in South America.

• He was a master of military strategy, a skill which led him to success.

• Became a national hero in many South American countries, Chile, Paraguay, Peru, and particularly in Argentina

• By 1825 all of Spanish America had won political independence. All were republics with representative governments.

Miguel HidalgoMiguel Hidalgo (1753 – 1811) (1753 – 1811)• Read and studied the works of

Enlightenment Europe though forbidden in Mexico at the time.

• He launched a colonial independence struggle against Spain, mother country that had become excessively oppressive in Mexico.

• A priest in the village of Dolores , he gave a fiery speech, called Grito of Dolores, urged the people to overthrow Spanish rule.

• His speech moved the people to marched toward Mexico City, but unarmed, they were soon defeated and Father Hidalgo was captured but the revolution he started did not die.

Simon Bolivar-Gran Colombia Simon Bolivar-Gran Colombia (1783 – 1830)• A general and one of South America’s

most important leaders. He is called “The Liberator.”

• He lead Spanish America in a successful struggle for independence.

• Contributed to the independence of the present-day countries of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Panama, and Bolivia.

• After defeating the Spanish Monarchy, Bolívar participated in the foundation of Gran Colombia, a nation formed from the liberated Spanish colonies. He was President of Gran Colombia from 1821 to 1830.

• Regarded as Mexico’s greatest and most beloved leader, resisted French Regarded as Mexico’s greatest and most beloved leader, resisted French occupation, overthrew the Empire, restored the Mexican Republic, and occupation, overthrew the Empire, restored the Mexican Republic, and modernize the countrymodernize the country

• Became a lawyer in 1834 and a judge in 1841 Became a lawyer in 1834 and a judge in 1841 • Governor of the state of Oaxaca from 1847 to 1852 Governor of the state of Oaxaca from 1847 to 1852 • Went into exile in 1853 due to objections to the dictatorship of Santa Anna Went into exile in 1853 due to objections to the dictatorship of Santa Anna • In 1854 he helped draft the Plan of Ayutla as the basis for a liberal revolution in In 1854 he helped draft the Plan of Ayutla as the basis for a liberal revolution in

Mexico.Mexico.• Served five terms as president of Mexico from 1858 until he died in office in Served five terms as president of Mexico from 1858 until he died in office in

18711871• The first Mexican leader who did not have a military backgroundThe first Mexican leader who did not have a military background• The first full-blooded indigenous national ever to serve as President of Mexico The first full-blooded indigenous national ever to serve as President of Mexico

and to lead a country in the Western Hemisphereand to lead a country in the Western Hemisphere

Benito Juárez Benito Juárez ((1806 – 1872)

The Liberation of Latin AmericaThe Liberation of Latin America

Independent States of Independent States of Latin America in 1830Latin America in 1830