13.2 Key leaders and ideologies

Latin American independence movements were led by charismatic figures with diverse backgrounds. Simón Bolívar, José de San Martín, Miguel Hidalgo, and others fought against Spanish rule, each shaping the revolution in their own way.

These leaders were influenced by various political ideologies, including liberalism, republicanism, and Pan-Americanism. These ideas challenged colonial structures and promoted concepts like individual rights, popular sovereignty, and regional unity.

Key Revolutionary Leaders

Simón Bolívar and José de San Martín

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• Simón Bolívar played a crucial role in the Latin American independence movement, leading revolutionary forces in Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia
• Bolívar's vision of a united Latin America inspired the concept of "Gran Colombia," a federation that initially included Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, and Ecuador
• José de San Martín was an Argentine general and a key figure in the South American wars of independence, particularly in the liberation of Argentina, Chile, and Peru
• San Martín and Bolívar famously met in Guayaquil, Ecuador in 1822 to discuss the future of Latin America, although they had differing visions for the region's political organization

Miguel Hidalgo and José María Morelos

• Miguel Hidalgo, a Catholic priest, initiated the Mexican War of Independence in 1810 with his famous "Grito de Dolores" (Cry of Dolores), which called for an end to Spanish rule and greater rights for the indigenous population
• Hidalgo's revolutionary army, composed mainly of indigenous people and mestizos, captured several important cities before being defeated by royalist forces
• José María Morelos, another Catholic priest, took over leadership of the Mexican independence movement after Hidalgo's execution in 1811
• Morelos organized the Congress of Chilpancingo in 1813, which declared Mexico's independence and drafted the "Sentiments of the Nation," a document outlining the principles of the new government

Bernardo O'Higgins and Francisco de Miranda

• Bernardo O'Higgins was a Chilean independence leader who, along with José de San Martín, helped liberate Chile from Spanish rule
• O'Higgins served as Supreme Director of Chile from 1817 to 1823, implementing various reforms such as the abolition of nobility titles and the establishment of a national library
• Francisco de Miranda was a Venezuelan revolutionary who played a significant role in the early stages of the Latin American independence movement
• Miranda led an unsuccessful invasion of Venezuela in 1806, which, although it failed, helped inspire future revolutionary efforts in the region

Major Political Ideologies

Liberalism and Republicanism

• Liberalism in the context of Latin American independence movements emphasized individual rights, limited government power, and free trade
• Liberal ideas, influenced by the Enlightenment, the American Revolution, and the French Revolution, challenged the traditional political and economic structures of colonial Latin America
• Republicanism advocated for a form of government in which power is held by elected representatives of the people, rather than a monarch or aristocracy
• Republican ideals promoted the concept of "popular sovereignty," which asserted that the legitimacy of a government derives from the consent of the governed

Pan-Americanism

• Pan-Americanism refers to the idea of unity and cooperation among the newly independent nations of the Americas
• This ideology aimed to foster a sense of shared identity and common interests among the countries of the region, particularly in the face of potential European interference
• Simón Bolívar was a strong proponent of Pan-Americanism, organizing the Congress of Panama in 1826 to discuss a confederation of Latin American states
• Although Bolívar's vision of a united Latin America did not come to fruition, the idea of Pan-Americanism continued to influence regional politics and diplomacy throughout the 19th and 20th centuries