2. Background
Liberal ideas were spreading to Latin America (LA)with explosive results.
From Mexico to the tip of South America, revolutionary movements arose to
overthrow the reigning European powers.
By 1825, most of LA was freed from colonial rule.
3. Napoleon Invades Spain
The spark that finally ignited widespread
rebellion in LA was Napoleon’s invasion of
Spain in 1808.
LA leaders saw Spain’s weakness as an
opportunity to reject foreign domination
and demand independence from colonial
rule.
4. Slaves win freedom in Haiti
Before Spanish colonists cried for freedom, revolution had
erupted in Hispaniola (today called: Haiti).
Slaves rose up in rebellion, forming an army. They were over-
worked and under-fed.
Their leader was Toussaint L’Ouverture. He was a self-educated
former slave, who was a brilliant general.
Their army fought against the Spanish, French and British!
By 1798, they controlled most of the island and by 1804, they
“We are fighting so that liberty –
were independent. But it wasn’t until 1820 that they became a
the most precious of all earthly republic.
possessions – may not perish.”
5. Mexico
Creoles in Spanish America did not like the example set
by the Haitians. They wanted power for themselves, not
change.
Father Hidalgo, presided over a poor parish called
Dolores.
During mass, he asked his listeners: “My children, will
you be free?”. This was called the Cry of Dolores.
This called Mexicans to independence.
6. Mexico
The rebels marched to the outskirts of A conservative called, Agustín de
Mexico City. The creoles changed their
support because Father Hidalgo wanted to Iturbide reached out to Mexican
end slavery and improve the conditions revolutionaries, whom he had
for natives. This was not accepted by fought for years.
creoles.
Backed by creoles, mestizos and
The rebels faced opposition and a year natives he overthrew the Spanish
later, Hidalgo was captured and executed. Viceroy.
His successor, José Morelos was also México was now independent, and
captured and shot.
Iturbide declared himself Emperor.
Spanish forces, backed by conservative He was quickly overthrown.
creoles hunted the surviving guerrillas.
7. South America
In South America, Native Americans had
rebelled against Spanish rule as early as the
1700s., though with limited results.
It was not until the 1800s that discontent
among the creoles sparked a widespread
drive for independence.
8. Bolivar
Educated creoles like Simon Bolivar admired the French
and American Revolutions; fueling their own dreams of
independence.
Bolivar made a first attempt in 1810 and he was defeated.
He had to exile himself in Haiti.
He returned and launched a daring attack on Bogotá, an
important city in the Andes, catching the Spanish by
surprise.
By 1824, he had liberated the territories we now know as
Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela and Perú.
9. San Martín
Born in Argentina, like Bolivar he was a creole and
was educated in Europe.
In 1816 he helped the Argentinian people win their
freedom.
His army crossed the Andes into Chile and then
moving north to Peru.
San Martín then handed command over to Bolivar.
10. Gran Colombia
Bolivar worked tirelessly to unite the
lands he had liberated into a single
nation, the Gran Colombia.
Rivalries between generals and leaders
made that dream impossible.
It finally split into
Ecuador, Colombia, Panama and
Venezuela.
Civil wars burst in the newly freed
lands.
11. Brazil
When Napoleon’s armies conquered Portugal, the
royal family fled to Brazil.
In 1822, Dom Pedro the Portuguese
Prince, proclaimed independence and became
Brazil’s emperor.
He accepted a constitution that provided freedom
of the press, freedom of religion and an elected
congress.
Brazil remained a monarchy until 1889, after
which, it became a republic.
12. Outcome
For the next hundred years or so, most of the Latin American countries
stayed practically the same:
Dependent on Europeans for commerce.
Only the aristocracy enjoyed real privileges.
Peasants were still oppressed.
Latin America’s people had simply changed one set of masters for another.
13. Ask Yourself
Analyze:
Why do you think France, Spain and Britain sent armies to fight the revolt in Haiti?
What were Iturbide’s motives for rebellion?
Understand:
Bolivar and San Martin: why was their education so important as an inspiration for
rebellion?
Recall:
For what reason was the Gran Colombia short lived?
15. Bibliography
Ellis, E. G., & Esler, A. (2009). World History. (P. Hall, Ed.) Upper Saddle
River, New Jersey, US: Pearson Education INC.
Images taken from www.google.com and Wes, K. P. (n.d.). Retrieved June
5, 2012, from Kyliepwes's Blog: http://kyliepwes.edublogs.org/
