Haitian Revolution and Latin America Overview

Haitian Revolution (1791-1804)

• Toussaint L'Ouverture, born enslaved in St. Domingue (Haiti), led a slave revolt.
• The revolt ended slavery in Haiti (1791-1801).
• L'Ouverture was inspired by Enlightenment ideas.
• Napoleon imprisoned L'Ouverture in 1802, and sent troops to reinstate slavery.

Haitian Revolution Continued

• Jean-Jacques Dessalines led the revolution after L'Ouverture.
• Dessalines declared Haiti independent from France in 1804.
• Haiti became the first nation in the Americas ruled by Black leaders.
• Haiti was the first nation to abolish slavery in the Americas.
• Haiti faced political and economic opposition from European nations and the U.S.

Latin America Under Spanish & Portuguese Rule (1492-early 1800s)

• Spain & Portugal appointed European-born men to rule colonial governments.
• Latin American colonies paid high taxes and supplied materials (silver, sugar) to Spain and Portugal.

Class Structure in Spanish Colonies

• Peninsulares: Born in Spain, top government officials and landowners.
• Creoles: Born in America, Spanish ethnicity, military officers and landowners.
• Mestizos: Mixed-race (Indigenous and European).
• Mulattos: Mixed-race (African and European).
• Enslaved people: From Africa and those born into slavery in the Americas.
• Indigenous people: Includes Genízaros, Native Americans sold into slavery by Spanish colonists in the present-day Southwest.

Latin American Revolutions & French Revolution (1804-1814)

• Creoles: American-born landowners, educated in Europe, learned Enlightenment ideas, wanted political power.
• Peninsular War: France occupied Spain and Portugal, replacing their kings with Napoleon's family members, weakening Spanish control over Latin American colonies.
• Creole Revolt: Creoles revolted because they felt no loyalty to Napoleon's puppet government.
• The Portuguese royal family fled to Brazil.

South American Independence & Revolutionary Leaders (1802-1820s)

• Simón Bolívar: A Venezuelan creole, wealthy landowner, educated in Europe, led the Pan-Americanism Movement; wanted a united Latin American state.
• Bolívar obtained independence for Venezuela, Columbia, Panama, Ecuador, and Peru (forming Gran Colombia, 1819-1830).
• He expanded his army to include mestizos and Indigenous troops to fight Spanish troops.

South American Revolutions Continued

• José de San Martín: An Argentine creole, wealthy, educated in Europe, fought for independence for southern Spanish colonies.
• San Martín joined forces with Bolívar to gain independence for Argentina, Chile, and Peru (1812-1822).

Mexican Revolution for Independence (1811-1821)

• Padre Miguel Hidalgo: A priest, led a peasant revolution for Mexican independence involving mestizos and Indians.
• Grito de Dolores: Hidalgo rang church bells to gather revolutionaries.
• Creoles joined the revolution in 1821 after fearing loss of status (landownership and political power).
• Agustín de Iturbide, a Creole, proclaimed himself emperor.

Brazil & Central American Independence (1821-1822)

• Portuguese King fled to Brazil during the Peninsular War against Napoleon.
• Brazilian King returned to Portugal after Napoleon's defeat.
• In 1822, Brazilians petitioned for independence and installed Dom Pedro, the son of the Portuguese king, as their ruler.
• Central American nations declared independence from Spain in 1821.
• In 1823, these nations finalized independence from Mexico after Iturbide was overthrown.
• The Central American nations formed the United Provinces of Central America, but later separated into independent nations.

Impact of Latin American Revolutions

• Consent of the Governed: Creole landowning class maintained control over the new governments.
• Dictatorships & Military Coups: Dictatorships and military coups shaped Latin American politics.
• Economic Policies: Favoritism towards wealthy elites resulted in large wealth gaps.
• Demands for Ranch Land: Demands for ranch land led to deforestation of rainforests.
• Colonial European Ideology: Colonial European ideology of white supremacy continued to influence discrimination against Indigenous and Black Latin Americans.

Additional Information

• 2024 Venezuelan Election: Issues/controversies with the election process were noted.
• 2021 Chilean Constitution: Chile's new constitution was written, confronting climate change head-on.
• 2013 Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, & Mexico: Video analysis noted opportunities, challenges, and links to the colonial past.