💣World History – 1400 to Present Unit 8 – Revolutions in Latin America

Key Revolutionary Movements

• Haitian Revolution (1791-1804) first successful slave revolt establishing an independent state led by former slaves
  • Began with a slave uprising on the French colony of Saint-Domingue
  • Toussaint L'Ouverture emerged as a key leader uniting disparate rebel groups
• Mexican War of Independence (1810-1821) struggle against Spanish colonial rule resulting in an independent Mexican state
  • Initiated by Father Miguel Hidalgo's "Grito de Dolores" calling for independence
  • Involved diverse factions including Creoles, mestizos, and indigenous peoples
• Venezuelan War of Independence (1811-1823) led by Simón Bolívar to liberate Venezuela from Spanish control
  • Part of Bolívar's broader campaign to establish a confederation of independent Latin American republics (Gran Colombia)
  • Bolívar's forces won decisive victories at Carabobo (1821) and Maracaibo (1823)
• Argentine War of Independence (1810-1818) military and political struggle to break from Spanish rule
  • Began with the May Revolution in Buenos Aires deposing the Spanish viceroy
  • José de San Martín led the Army of the Andes across the Andes to liberate Chile and Peru
• Cuban War of Independence (1895-1898) final push for Cuban independence from Spain
  • José Martí played a key role in organizing and inspiring the revolutionary movement
  • U.S. intervention in the Spanish-American War (1898) led to Cuban independence but under U.S. influence

Causes and Triggers

• Enlightenment ideas of natural rights, liberty, and self-governance spread by works of Locke, Rousseau, and Montesquieu
• Inspiration from the American Revolution (1765-1783) and French Revolution (1789-1799) demonstrating challenges to monarchical authority
• Resentment of colonial economic policies benefiting European powers at the expense of local populations (mercantilism)
  • Trade restrictions, taxes, and monopolies on goods like tobacco and sugar
  • Concentration of land ownership among European elites and the Catholic Church
• Racial and social hierarchies privileging European-born Spaniards (peninsulares) over Creoles (American-born Spaniards), mestizos, indigenous peoples, and enslaved Africans
  • Frustrations among Creoles over lack of political autonomy and access to high offices
• Weakening of Spanish control due to Napoleon's invasion of Spain (1808) and the abdication of King Ferdinand VII
• Increasing sense of Latin American identity distinct from European colonial powers
• Immediate triggers like Hidalgo's "Grito de Dolores" and the May Revolution in Argentina

Major Figures and Leaders

• Toussaint L'Ouverture leader of the Haitian Revolution who abolished slavery and resisted French attempts to reassert control
  • Served as Governor-General of Saint-Domingue until his arrest and death in French captivity
• Simón Bolívar "The Liberator" who led independence movements in Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia
  • Envisioned a federated state of Latin American republics (Gran Colombia) though this ultimately fractured
• José de San Martín Argentine general who led military campaigns for independence in Argentina, Chile, and Peru
  • Embraced a more monarchical vision for post-independence governance compared to Bolívar's republicanism
• Miguel Hidalgo Mexican Catholic priest who launched the Mexican War of Independence with his "Grito de Dolores"
  • Captured and executed by Spanish forces in 1811 but became an iconic martyr for the movement
• José Martí Cuban poet, journalist, and revolutionary who organized the Cuban Revolutionary Party
  • Died in battle against Spanish forces but his writings inspired Cuban nationalism and revolutionary fervor
• Agustín de Iturbide Mexican general turned insurgent who briefly established the First Mexican Empire (1822-1823)
  • Abdicated and went into exile following republican opposition to his rule

Timeline of Events

• 1791 Haitian Revolution begins with a slave uprising in Saint-Domingue
• 1804 Haiti declares independence as the first free black republic in the world
• 1808 Napoleon invades Spain and deposes King Ferdinand VII leading to a power vacuum in Spanish colonies
• 1810 Miguel Hidalgo issues the "Grito de Dolores" initiating the Mexican War of Independence
  • May Revolution in Buenos Aires starts the Argentine War of Independence
• 1811 Venezuelan War of Independence begins with the formation of the First Republic of Venezuela
• 1818 Chilean War of Independence ends with Spanish defeat at the Battle of Maipú
• 1821 Mexico achieves independence from Spain with the Treaty of Córdoba
  • Simón Bolívar wins the Battle of Carabobo a decisive step towards Venezuelan independence
• 1824 Battle of Ayacucho marks the final defeat of Spanish forces in South America
• 1868 Cuban War of Independence (Ten Years' War) begins
• 1895 Cuban War of Independence resumes with uprisings led by José Martí
• 1898 Spanish-American War ends with U.S. victory and the Treaty of Paris
  • Cuba gains nominal independence but under U.S. influence via the Platt Amendment

Ideological Influences

• Enlightenment liberalism emphasizing individual rights, representative government, and challenges to absolute monarchy
  • Influence of thinkers like John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Baron de Montesquieu
  • Emphasis on social contract theory and the legitimacy of government deriving from the consent of the governed
• French Revolution (1789-1799) as a model for revolutionary change and the establishment of a republican government
  • Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (1789) articulating Enlightenment principles
  • Overthrow of the Bourbon monarchy and the execution of King Louis XVI
• American Revolution (1765-1783) and the establishment of a constitutional republic independent from British colonial rule
  • Ideals of no taxation without representation, self-governance, and inalienable rights
  • Federalist system balancing power between national and state governments
• Nationalism and the idea of a distinct Latin American identity separate from European colonial powers
  • Bolívar's vision of a united Latin American polity and a shared Creole identity
  • Celebration of indigenous heritage and mestizo culture as distinct from European influences
• Economic liberalism and challenges to mercantilism and colonial trade restrictions
  • Adam Smith's ideas on free trade, competition, and the invisible hand of the market
  • Rejection of Spanish monopolies and desire for direct trade relationships with other nations

Impact on Society and Politics

• Collapse of Spanish colonial rule and the establishment of independent Latin American states
  • Redrawing of political boundaries and the emergence of new national identities
  • Challenges of forming stable governments and resolving regional rivalries post-independence
• Abolition of slavery in some regions (Haiti) while others maintained slave economies (Brazil, Cuba)
  • Ongoing struggles for racial equality and the integration of former slaves into society
  • Continuation of plantation agriculture and export-oriented economies
• Rise of caudillos (strongmen) who dominated regional politics in the post-independence period
  • Personalist rule and the concentration of power in the hands of charismatic leaders
  • Cycles of instability, coups, and civil wars as rival caudillos vied for control
• Debates over the role of the Catholic Church and the relationship between church and state
  • Anticlerical measures to reduce Church influence and confiscate Church property
  • Conservative support for maintaining Church privileges and traditional social hierarchies
• Land reform efforts and challenges to the hacienda system of large landholdings
  • Attempts to redistribute land to peasants and promote small-scale agriculture
  • Resistance from landed elites and limited success in transforming agrarian structures
• Expansion of education and efforts to reduce illiteracy and promote national cultures
  • Establishment of public school systems and universities
  • Promotion of national literatures, arts, and cultural identities distinct from colonial influences

Global Context and Reactions

• Revolutions in Latin America as part of the broader Age of Revolutions (1774-1849) challenging monarchical authority and colonial rule
  • Contemporaneous with the American, French, and Haitian Revolutions
  • Reflective of Enlightenment ideals and the spread of republican sentiment
• Reactions of European powers seeking to maintain colonial influence and protect economic interests
  • Spanish attempts to reassert control and suppress revolutionary movements
  • British and French recognition of Latin American independence to gain trade advantages
• U.S. attitudes towards Latin American revolutions shaped by the Monroe Doctrine (1823)
  • Assertion of U.S. opposition to further European colonization in the Americas
  • Growing U.S. economic and political influence in the region (Pan-Americanism)
• Emergence of Latin America as a distinct geopolitical entity in the 19th century
  • Bolivarian vision of a united Latin American polity vs. the reality of fragmentation
  • Ongoing tensions between national sovereignty and foreign intervention
• Impact on global trade patterns and the integration of Latin American economies into world markets
  • Shift away from Spanish-controlled mercantilist policies towards free trade
  • Growth of export economies focused on primary commodities (coffee, sugar, copper, etc.)
• Inspiration for later anti-colonial and national liberation movements in the 20th century
  • Adaptation of Bolivarian ideals and symbols in Cuban, Nicaraguan, and other revolutionary contexts
  • Legacy of anti-imperialism and challenges to U.S. hegemony in the region

Legacy and Modern Implications

• Ongoing struggles for political stability, economic development, and social equality in Latin America
  • Cycles of authoritarianism, populism, and democratic transitions in the 20th century
  • Persistent inequalities and the marginalization of indigenous and Afro-descendant populations
• Continued debates over the role of the state in the economy and the distribution of wealth
  • Tensions between neoliberal policies and state-led development models
  • Efforts to nationalize key industries (oil, mining) and promote economic sovereignty
• Impact of U.S. interventions and Cold War politics on the region
  • U.S. support for right-wing dictatorships to counter perceived communist threats
  • Revolutionary movements in Cuba, Nicaragua, and El Salvador challenging U.S. influence
• Enduring legacy of colonial racial and social hierarchies in contemporary Latin American societies
  • Movements for indigenous rights and the recognition of Afro-descendant identities
  • Debates over multicultural citizenship and the inclusion of diverse populations
• Ongoing significance of Latin American integration and regional cooperation efforts
  • Formation of regional organizations (OAS, Mercosur, UNASUR) to promote economic and political coordination
  • Challenges of balancing national interests with regional integration initiatives
• Commemorations and contested interpretations of revolutionary figures and events
  • Appropriation of Bolívar, Martí, and other leaders as national symbols
  • Debates over the meaning and legacy of independence in contemporary politics and culture
• Influence of Latin American revolutionary ideals and tactics on global social movements
  • Adaptation of guerrilla warfare strategies and Marxist-inspired ideologies
  • Solidarity with anti-colonial and national liberation struggles in Africa and Asia