Mrs. Hammock 7th grade Social Studies World History 7-3.

7-3.3 Compare the development of Latin American independence movements, including the Haitian
revolution, the role of Simon Bolivar in different independence movements, and the role of Father Miguel
Hidalgo in the Mexican Revolution of 1810.

Latin American independence movements

Latin American independence movements were inspired by the Enlightenment, the American and French
Revolutions. The ideas of liberty and equality inspired independence from colonial domination in this society
driven by social structure. Similar to the French Revolution, social class struggles and discontent played a
large role in Latin American independence movements.

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Mrs. Hammock 7th grade Social Studies World History 7-3.3

SOCIAL STRUCTURE

Peninsulares Creoles

Spaniards born in Latin America

Spanish-born citizens people born in the colonies with unmixed
mainland Spaniard residing in the New World Spanish descent
The word "peninsular" makes reference to Could not hold political office
the Iberian Peninsula where Spain is located. Could be officers in military; often passes over
by Spanish born Peninsulares
the Creoles profoundly resent being
discriminated against in this way
Wealthy
Powerful
Landowners
Leaders of a rebellion against Spain come from
Smallest this class
percentage of the
population
Highest political positions
Wealthy
Powerful
Landowners

Mestizos Mulattos

A mixture of European and African ancestry

A mixture of European and Indian ancestry Slave class
Since there were few Spanish women in The bottom of the social class system
America in the early decades of colonization,
many mestizo families are of long standing

In 1808 Napoleon invades Spain, secures the (resigning) of the Spanish king
Ferdinand VII, and places on the throne his own brother Joseph Bonaparte.

This unexpected circumstance provides two good reasons for independent action in
Spanish America led by the Creoles.

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Mrs. Hammock 7th grade Social Studies World History 7-3.3

1. No Spanish government in Spain means provinces overseas must look after themselves (a theme
implying long-term independence, attractive to many Creoles).
2. And now interim local governments should now be set up on behalf of the deposed Spanish king.

Creoles led the majority of the independence movements because they were
educated in Europe
exposed to Enlightenment and revolutionary ideals
Upset

Latin America used Locke’s ideas of

consent of the governed to justify
rebellion against Spain.

Simón Bolívar, a Creole general, led the independence

movements throughout South America beginning in his home
country of Venezuela in 1811. Bolívar then moved into
Colombia and Ecuador, where he met José de San Martín, who
had recently freed Chile. Together, the two men combined
forces under Bolívar’s command to liberate Peru. Bolívar’s
dream to unite the Spanish colonies of South America into a
single country, known as Gran Colombia, was a reality for a
short time as Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, and Ecuador were
temporarily united. But political issues soon separated the
While in Europe he witnessed the proclamation of
countries once again into their own independent states. In
Mexico, the independence movement was led by the mestizos. Napoleon Bonaparte as Emperor of France and
later the coronation of Napoleon as King of Italy
and Milan. Bolívar lost respect for Napoleon
whom he considered to have betrayed the
republican ideals.

Padre Miguel y Costilla Hidalgo (Father Miguel Hidalgo), inspired

by Enlightenment ideals, called for rebellion, and a crowd marched
toward Mexico City. However, they were defeated in 1811 by the upper
classes, which feared losing their power to the lower classes. Another
attempt at revolt four
years later also failed.
Mexican independence
finally was attained in
1821 when Mexican
creoles, fearing the
loss of their power, declared independence from Spain. In
1823, the nations of Central America (Nicaragua, Guatemala,
Honduras, El Salvador, and Costa Rica) declared their
independence from Mexico.

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Mrs. Hammock 7th grade Social Studies World History 7-3.3

In Haiti, the western third of the island of Hispaniola, the revolution was inspired by the American Revolution
in particular. This French colony, which was known as
Saint-Dominigue (Fr) or Santo Domingo (Sp) prior to its
independence, had a large slave population, most of who
were treated brutally and lived in poor conditions.

The French Revolution shook the small island in the North

Atlantic Ocean. These sugar plantations would never be
the same. The enlightenment idea of Jean-Jacques
Rousseau had reached the poverty ridden island. But the
ideas of The Rights of Man had given courage to many to
push forward and revolt against their oppressors. In
1791, a group of 100,000 slaves revolted, and Toussaint
L’Ouverture soon became their leader. By 1801,
L’Ouverture had gained control of the island and freed all
the enslaved Africans. In 1802, France sent troops to deal
with the situation and remove L’Ouverture from power. By
1803 Napoleon was ready to get Haiti off his back: he and
Toussaint agreed to terms of peace. Napoleon agreed to
recognize Haitian independence and Toussaint agreed to retire from public life. A few months later, the French
invited Toussaint to come to a negotiating meeting. When he arrived, the French (at Napoleon's orders)
betrayed his trust and arrested him, putting him on a ship headed for France. Napoleon ordered that Toussaint
be placed in a prison dungeon in the mountains, and murdered by means of cold, starvation, and neglect.
Toussaint died in prison, in 1803, but others carried on the fight for freedom. In 1804, Haiti declared its
independence, thus making this the only successful slave revolt in history.

Now What?

1. Compare the development of Latin American independence movements, including the Haitian
revolution.
2. Compare the revolutions of Simon Bolivar and Father Miguel Hidalgo.
3. What were the results of the Revolutions in Mexico, Haiti, and Central America?
4. Was Napoleon responsible for revolutions in Central and South America? How?
5. How did Haiti gain their independence?