Latin America Lect #7

1. Agenda 11/18/14
•1. Lect: Causes of Latin American Revolutions #7
98
Causes of Latin American
Revolutions
1.The Enlightenment writings of John Locke, Voltaire, &
Jean Rousseau; Thomas Jefferson and Thomas Paine.
2.Creole discontent at being left out of government jobs and
trade concessions.
3.Inspiration of American and French Revolutions.
4.Preoccupation of Spain & Portugal in fighting the
Napoleonic Wars.

2. 1. Enlightenment Ideas
1.Natural Laws that govern human society
and the animal world
2.Give people rights of life, liberty,
property!
3.Make fair societies based on reason if
possible.
4.Challenged the theory of “Divine Right”
monarchy. That governments are created
by people.
100
John Locke
2. Creole Discontent
•Creole’s were upset about being
second-class citizens.
•Creole’s could not hold any
political office in the New World
despite their considerable wealth
and their European education and
heritage.
101

3. Casta Paintings
In what ways
does this image
illustrate the
Colonial
hierarchy in the
New World?
Colonial Class System
103
Peninsulares
Creoles
Mestizos Mulattos
Native Americans African Slaves

4. Colonial Spanish America
Europeans
Peninsulares
Creoles
Mestizos
Mulattos
African Slaves
Native Americans
1%
25%
7%
7%
6%
54%
•Who holds power?
•Who revolts?
–CREOLES… Why?
• Creoles jealous of peninsulares
power
•Creoles = wealthy
•Creoles educated in Europe
–Enlightenment
•Creoles in charge of military
3. Inspiration of American & French
Revolutions
•Enlightenment Ideas
spur notions of
equality
•Natural Rights- John
Locke
•Notion of
Government by the
people
•Power shifts from the
top to the bottom Declaration of
Independence, 1776
Declaration of the Rights
of Man & of the Citizen,
1789

5. 4. Preoccupation of Spain & Portugal In
Fighting Napoleonic Wars
•1800s - Napoleon is a
dominating force in Europe.
•Focus shifted from the
colonies to territorial gains
and conflict in Europe
•Soldiers are pulled from
New World into Europe
•Creole military training gives
them a natural advantage
Provides a model & a diversion!