Latin American Revolutions 2022 PDF

Revolutions in Latin American European Empires: 1660s 16c-18c: New Ideas Brewing in Europe Causes of Latin American Revolutions 1. Enlightenment Ideas 🡪 writings of John Locke, Voltaire, & Jean Rousseau; Thomas Jefferson and Thomas Paine. 2. Creole discontent at being left out of government jo...

Revolutions in Latin American European Empires: 1660s 16c-18c: New Ideas Brewing in Europe Causes of Latin American Revolutions 1. Enlightenment Ideas 🡪 writings of John Locke, Voltaire, & Jean Rousseau; Thomas Jefferson and Thomas Paine. 2. Creole discontent at being left out of government jobs and trade concessions. 3. Inspiration of American and French Revolutions. 4. Preoccupation of Spain & Portugal in fighting the Napoleonic Wars. 5. Mercantilism enriched the mother country at the expense of the colony. 6. Power of the Catholic Church 7. Wealth and power were unequally distributed 8. Native Americans wanted the land back from the Spanish 9. Native Americans and slaves wanted freedom 1. Enlightenment Ideas 1. Laws of nature [NATURAL LAWS] govern natural science and human society. 2. Give people rights 🡪 life, liberty, property! 3. Make fair societies based on reason possible. 4. Challenged the theory of “Divine Right” monarchy. Enlightenment Thinkers 2. Creole Discontent • Mestizos hoped to move up in society • Creoles felt that they built the colonies and therefore wanted to rule them 3. Inspiration of American & French Revolutions Declaration of the Rights of Man & of the Citizen, 1789 Successful revolutions in North America and France Declaration of Independence, 1776 4. Preoccupation of Spain & Portugal In Fighting Napoleonic Wars Napoleon on the March Provides a model & a diversion! Latin American Revolutions! Latin American Revolutions Crash Course World History: Latin American Revolutions • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBw35Ze3bg8 Simón Bolivar: The “Brains”of theRevolution ✔ Creole leader of the revolutions in Venezuela. ✔ Spent time in Europe and the newlyindependent United States. Simon Bolivar (the “Liberator”) • Wealthy Creole family in Venezuela • Organized rebels against Spanish rule. • 1808-1825 • Started in Venezuela, then moved to help Ecuador, Colombia, and Peru. • He united all of these areas into Gran Colombia, under his rule. He hoped to free and unite all of Latin America. Simón Bolivar Meets José de San Martin Bolivar coming from the North. The “Muscle” of the Revolution José de St. Martín and Bernard O’Higgins cross the Andes Mountains. Jose de San Martin • Creole in Argentina • Organized rebels in Argentina against Spanish rule. • 1812-1825 • Started in Argentina, then moved to Chile, Ecuador and Peru. • He fought with Simon Bolivar, and Bernardo O’Higgins (led Chile to independence) • Muscle of the Revolution Bolivar & San Martin Fight for Independence! Bolivar’s Accomplishment Bolivar’s Failure ✔ After uniting Venezuela, Colombia, & Ecuador into Gran Colombia, he left to help free the rest of Latin America. ✔ He died a year later, with his goal of uniting all of South America unfulfilled! Latin American States After the Revolutions 1. Brazil Freed from Portugal ⮚ The Portuguese royal family escaped Napoleon by fleeing to Brazil. ⮚ Pedro I set up a new, independent kingdom in 1821 when his father returned to Portugal. ⮚ Pedro II assumed full power after Pedro I abdicated his throne. 2. Independence for Spanish & Portuguese Latin America ✔ By the mid-1820s, revolts create many newlyindependent nations. ✔ Toussaint L’Ouveture – Haiti ✔ Bolívar, San Martín, & O’Higgins in: Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Peru, Bolivia, the United Provinces of Central America, and Gran Colombia! 3. No Unity! ✔ Failure of Bolivar’s dream for a united South America: ✔ Many newly independent countries struggle with civil wars. ✔ By 1830s, geographic factors (mts., the Amazon, etc.) plus cultural differences defeated attempts at unification. ✔ Gran Colombia. ✔ United Provinces of Central America. 4. Independence Brought More Poverty ⮚ The wars disrupted trade. ⮚ The wars devastated the cities and the countryside. 5. Left Many Countries in the Control of Caudillos ✔ WHO WERE THEY?: ✔ Mid-19c dictators 🡪 military authoritarianism. ✔ Mostly wealthy creole aristocrats. ✔ Immediately followed the fight for independence. ✔ Posed as reformers with goals to improve the economy and better the lives of the common people. 5. Left Many Countries in the Control of Caudillos ✔ WHO WERE THEY?: ✔ BUT…Overthrew governments and took away basic human rights. ✔ Some attempted to make improvements, but most just cared about themselves and their families and friends [nepotism]. ✔ Power changes usually occurred at bayonet-point [coup d’etats!] Geography kills the dream of Bolivar South America & Nationalism • In order to grow the independence movement Bolivar and San Martin encouraged ideas of nationalism • This helped fuel support for the independence movements but also led to the splintering of a unified Latin America What is the Message? Additional Problems 6. Feuds among leaders. 7. Geographic barriers. 8. The social hierarchy continued from the past. • Haciendas=large estates 9. Conservatives favored the old social order. 10. Liberals wanted land reform. 11. Dependence on foreign nations for capital and for economic investments. Who benefitted from French Revolution and the Latin American Revolutions the most? Effect of Latin American Revolutions • Are we better off now than we were under Spain?