Latin American Independence

• In this lesson, students will be able to

explain the accomplishments of the

following individuals:

• Toussaint L’Ouverture

• Jose de San Martin

• Simon Bolivar

• Miguel Hidalgo

Nationalism Definition

• The belief that people should be loyal to and have pride in their nation

• Nationalism can be like a bomb blowing nations apart or a magnet pulling them together

Common Bonds of Nationalism

• Common language, culture, history, land

The American and French Revolutions

spread the idea that people were entitled

to a government that protected

their interests.

When Napoleon

conquered Spain,

Latin Americans

were able

to govern

themselves.

Reasons for Nationalist Movements

• Latin Americans resented restrictions that forbade them to trade with countries other than Spain.

• Latin Americans resented restrictions that prevented them from manufacturing their own goods.

• The American and French Revolutions encouraged freedom and self-rule.

After Napoleon’s defeat, many Latin

American colonies refused to return to

Spanish rule and demanded independence.

Social Hierarchy in Latin America

Latin American colonial society

was separated into social

classes based on origins,

and race which

determined peoples

place in society.

Peninsulares

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Creoles

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Mestizos & Mulattoes

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African and Native American

A Layered Society

This list of names to describe one's precise race and, by consequence, one's place in society

Peninsulares-born in Spain, held highest positions in colonial government and Catholic Church

Creole- American born descendants of Spanish settlers, owned most of the plantations, ranches and mines. Treated as second class citizens.

A Layered Society

Mestizo- Native American and European

descendant

Mulatto- African and European descendant

African and Native American descendant were

the lowest social class

Toussaint L’Ouverture

led an uprising of

African slaves in

1791, forcing the

French out of Haiti.

Haiti was the first Latin American

colony to achieve independence.

Simon Bolivar

defeated Spanish

forces between

1819 and 1825,

liberating

Venezuela, Colombia,

Ecuador, Peru

and Bolivia.

Jose de San Martin worked to

liberate Argentina and Chile from

Spanish rule in the years 1816 to

1818.

Miguel Hidalgo,

a priest, began

a rebellion

against Spanish

rule in Mexico

in 1810, but the

uprising failed.

Mexico later

achieved

its independence

in 1821.

President Monroe of the United States

issued the Monroe Doctrine in 1823.

It stated the United States would oppose

any attempt by Europeans to establish

new colonies in the Americas.

The Monroe Doctrine made it clear

to the world that the United States

had special interests in the Western

Hemisphere.

Where is the Western

Hempishere?

After independence, dictatorships,

unstable governments, and poverty

affected many Latin American nations.

Land and wealth remained in

the hands of a small elite. Caudillos or

military leaders ruled in some places.

Questions for Reflection:

• What were the causes of the Latin American independence movements?

• Who was Toussaint L’Ouverture and what did he accomplish?

• What were the accomplishments of Simon Bolivar and Jose de San Martin?

• Compare and contrast Miguel Hidalgo and Toussaint L’Ouverture.

• What happened to the newly independent nations?