💃Latin American History – 1791 to Present Unit 1 – Revolution and Independence (1791-1825)

Key Events and Timeline

• Haitian Revolution began in 1791 with a slave uprising led by Toussaint Louverture
  • Ended in 1804 with Haiti's independence from France, becoming the first independent black republic
• Venezuelan Declaration of Independence on July 5, 1811, marking the beginning of the Venezuelan War of Independence
• Argentine War of Independence started in 1810 with the May Revolution in Buenos Aires
  • Ended in 1818 with the Battle of Maipú, securing independence from Spain
• Mexican War of Independence began with the Cry of Dolores on September 16, 1810, led by Miguel Hidalgo
  • Concluded in 1821 with the Treaty of Córdoba, establishing Mexico's independence from Spain
• Colombian War of Independence (1810-1819) resulted in the creation of Gran Colombia, which included present-day Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Panama
• Peruvian War of Independence (1811-1824) culminated in the Battle of Ayacucho, ending Spanish rule in South America
• Brazilian Independence on September 7, 1822, with Prince Pedro declaring Brazil's independence from Portugal

Major Revolutionary Figures

• Simón Bolívar, known as "The Liberator," led independence movements in Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia
  • Played a crucial role in the Admirable Campaign (1813) and the Battle of Boyacá (1819)
• José de San Martín, an Argentine general, led the fight for independence in Argentina, Chile, and Peru
  • Organized the Army of the Andes and led the Crossing of the Andes (1817)
• Miguel Hidalgo, a Mexican priest, initiated the Mexican War of Independence with the Cry of Dolores
• José María Morelos, another Mexican priest, took over leadership of the Mexican independence movement after Hidalgo's death
• Toussaint Louverture, a former slave, led the Haitian Revolution and established Haiti as the first independent black republic
• Agustín de Iturbide, a Mexican general, played a key role in Mexico's independence and briefly served as Emperor of Mexico (1822-1823)
• Bernardo O'Higgins, an Irish-Chilean general, fought for Chilean independence and served as the country's first head of state (1817-1823)

Causes and Triggers of Revolution

• Enlightenment ideas of liberty, equality, and self-determination spread throughout Latin America
• The American and French Revolutions served as inspirations and models for Latin American independence movements
• The Napoleonic Wars weakened Spain's control over its colonies, providing opportunities for rebellion
  • Napoleon's invasion of Spain in 1808 and the installation of his brother Joseph Bonaparte as king further destabilized Spanish rule
• Economic exploitation and trade restrictions imposed by colonial powers fueled resentment among Latin American elites and merchants
• Social inequalities and racial hierarchies in colonial societies contributed to discontent among indigenous peoples, mestizos, and slaves
• The Bourbon Reforms, aimed at centralizing power and increasing revenue, sparked resistance in the colonies
• Local juntas formed in response to the political crisis in Spain, asserting autonomy and later independence

Independence Movements by Region

• Spanish South America:
  • Argentina, Chile, and Peru: Led by José de San Martín and Bernardo O'Higgins
  • Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador: Led by Simón Bolívar
  • Bolivia: Named after Simón Bolívar, achieved independence in 1825
• Mexico and Central America:
  • Mexico: Began with Miguel Hidalgo's Cry of Dolores in 1810, achieved independence in 1821
  • Central American countries (Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica) initially gained independence as part of the Mexican Empire, later forming the Federal Republic of Central America (1823-1838)
• Brazil:
  • Achieved independence from Portugal in 1822 under Prince Pedro, who became Emperor Pedro I
  • Maintained a monarchical system until the establishment of the First Brazilian Republic in 1889
• Haiti:
  • Haitian Revolution (1791-1804) led to independence from France and the abolition of slavery
  • Became the first independent black republic in the world

Ideological Influences

• Enlightenment thinkers such as John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Montesquieu promoted ideas of natural rights, social contracts, and separation of powers
  • These ideas challenged the divine right of kings and inspired demands for representative government and individual liberties
• The American Revolution (1765-1783) demonstrated the possibility of colonies achieving independence and establishing republican governments
• The French Revolution (1789-1799) further spread Enlightenment ideals and showcased the power of popular revolt against monarchical rule
• The Haitian Revolution (1791-1804) had a profound impact on the region, demonstrating the potential for slave uprisings and the abolition of slavery
• Liberalism and republicanism became dominant political ideologies among Latin American revolutionaries
  • Emphasized individual rights, constitutional government, and the separation of church and state
• Economic liberalism, advocating free trade and reduced government intervention, gained support among Latin American elites seeking to break free from colonial trade restrictions

Military Campaigns and Strategies

• Guerrilla warfare tactics were widely used by revolutionary forces, taking advantage of their knowledge of local terrain and popular support
  • Examples include the gauchos in Argentina and the llaneros in Venezuela
• The use of cavalry charges and surprise attacks proved effective against Spanish forces, as demonstrated by José de San Martín in the Battle of Chacabuco (1817) and the Battle of Maipú (1818)
• Simón Bolívar employed a strategy of dividing his forces to attack the Spanish on multiple fronts, as seen in the Admirable Campaign (1813) and the Battle of Boyacá (1819)
• The Crossing of the Andes (1817) by José de San Martín's Army of the Andes was a remarkable logistical feat that caught the Spanish off guard and led to the liberation of Chile
• Naval campaigns played a crucial role in securing independence, with figures like Admiral Thomas Cochrane leading the Chilean and Peruvian navies against Spanish forces
• International support and foreign volunteers, such as the British Legion in Bolívar's campaigns, provided valuable military expertise and manpower to the revolutionary cause
• The Battle of Ayacucho (1824) in Peru, led by Antonio José de Sucre, was a decisive victory that effectively ended Spanish control in South America

Social and Economic Impact

• The wars of independence disrupted traditional social hierarchies and led to greater social mobility for some groups
  • The abolition of slavery in some regions, such as Haiti and Gran Colombia, transformed social structures
• The power of the Catholic Church was diminished as liberal governments sought to reduce its influence and confiscate its properties
• Indigenous peoples and mestizos played significant roles in the independence movements, but their social and economic conditions often remained marginalized after independence
• Women's participation in the wars of independence challenged traditional gender roles, with figures like Manuela Sáenz and Juana Azurduy de Padilla taking active roles in the struggles
• Economic instability and debt characterized the post-independence period, as new nations grappled with the costs of war and the challenges of establishing new economic systems
• The breakdown of colonial trade networks and the shift towards export-oriented economies led to the rise of caudillos (strongmen) and regional power struggles
• Land reform and the redistribution of property became contentious issues, with competing interests of elite landowners, indigenous communities, and landless peasants

Legacy and Aftermath

• The wars of independence resulted in the formation of new nation-states across Latin America, each with its own unique political, social, and economic challenges
• The ideals of liberty, equality, and republicanism that fueled the independence movements continued to shape political discourse and struggles in the region
• The legacy of the wars of independence is celebrated through national holidays, monuments, and the veneration of revolutionary heroes like Simón Bolívar and José de San Martín
• Regional integration efforts, such as Bolívar's vision of a united Latin America, have been pursued at various times, reflecting a shared history and identity
• The impact of the wars of independence on indigenous peoples and Afro-descendants has been a subject of ongoing historical analysis and debate
• The post-independence period saw the emergence of political instability, caudillismo, and frequent changes of government in many Latin American countries
• Economic dependency on foreign powers, particularly Britain and later the United States, characterized the region's development in the 19th and early 20th centuries
• The wars of independence set the stage for ongoing struggles for social justice, political representation, and economic equality in Latin America