Latin American Independence
Breakdown of Society
African Slaves – people brought over to serve in the fields of the new colony
Natives – people who were from the conquered land
Mulattos – Mixed European and African ancestry
Mestizos – Mixed Europeanand Native ancestry
Creoles – Spaniards born in Latin America
Peninsulares – born in Spain
Haiti’s Independence• Saint Domingue - first
colony to free itself• 500,000 slaves– 20,000 white individuals on
the island– Brutal punishments
• 1791 – 100,000 slaves rebelled– Toussaint L’Ouverture –
leader • Unsure about diplomatic and
military matters, fast learner
• 1801 – Slaves in control • 1802 – French troops landed
in Saint Domingue • 1803 – Peace treaty, not
independence– Toussaint invited to negotiate
relations
• Jean-Jacques Dessalines• 1804 colony
declared independent
Simon Bolivar and Venezuela
• Simon Bolivar– 1811 – Venezuela
declared independence
– Bolivar’s volunteer army lost but continued fighting • Bolivar was exiled
twice after losses
• 1819 – Turning point– Lead army through
the Andes into Colombia
– Venezuelan soldiers defeated Spanish
• 1821 – Bolivar forced Venezuelan independence – Marched South into
Ecuador where he met Jose de San Martin
Jose de San Martin’s Argentina
• 1816 – Argentina declares independence– Spanish forces in Chile
and Peru were still a threat
• 1817 – San Martin marched across Andes to Chile – Joined with Bernardo
O’Higgins – Freed Chile
• 1822 – Wanted to destroy the Spanish, needed more men– Met Bolivar at Guayaquil,
Ecuador • Bolivar control of army
– Battle of Ayacucho (Peru) 1824• Last major battle for
independence
• Gran Colombia– Venezuela, Colombia,
Panama, and Ecuador
Mexico Breaks from Spain
• Mexicans and mestizos - leading role
• 1810 – Grito de Dolores – Padre Miguel Hidalgo – Call for rebellion
• 17 September 1810 – march to Mexico City– Spanish and Creoles army
defeated Hidalgo
• Jose Maria Morelos – new leader– Defeated by Agustin de
Iturbide – Revolution continued
• 1820 – Revolution in Spain – Creoles feared the loss of
privilege • 1821 –Treaty of Cordoba – Mexico is constitutional
monarchy under Agustin– 18 months later, first
Mexican Republic created
Central American Independence• Viceroyalty of New Spain • 1821 – Central American
states declare independence– Agustin refused to recognize
• 1823 – Absolute independence– United Provinces of Central
America• Nicaragua, Guatemala,
Honduras, El Salvador, and Costa Rica
Brazil’s Bloodless Independence
• 1807 – Napoleon invaded Portugal and Spain – Royal family - Brazil– Rio de Janiero became the
center • 1815 – Returned to Portugal – Dom Pedro, stayed behind
• King John wanted Brazil as colony– 1822 – 8,000
Brazilians signed a petition asking Dom Pedro to rule and he agreed
– 1822 – Officially declared Brazilian independence