European Colonies in Latin America

1. European Colonies in Latin America SS6H2 a, b, d

2. LATIN AMERICA Historical Understandings SS6H2 The student will explain the development of Latin America and the Caribbean as colonies of European nations and on through their independence. • Describe the importance of African slavery on the development of the Americas. • Explain the importance of the Spanish mission system in developing Latin America. • Explain the Latin American independence movement; include the importance of Toussaint L’Ouverture in Haiti, and Miguel Hidalgo, Simon Bolivar, and Jose de San Martin.

3. EQ: How did European colonization of Latin America affect the development of the region?

4. European Colonies in Latin America • With the discovery of the New World, European countries founded new colonies in Latin America. • These colonies were set up to establish lines of trade within the New World. • These trade posts would allow the Europeans to ship goods from the New World back to Europe.

5. African Slavery in the Americas • As the agriculture industry grew in the Americas, there was an increasing need for labor. • At first, Europeans forced conquered Native Americans to work on sugar plantations. • European disease soon decreased the Native American population, and the Europeans needed a new source of labor for their plantations and mines. • The Europeans looked to the slave trade as a source of labor for their plantations and mines.

6. The Triangular Trade • The term triangular trade refers to the shape of the trade routes between Europe, Africa, and the New World in which goods and slaves were exchanged between the three regions for mutual benefit.

7. The West Indies • Large sugar plantations were built in the West Indies. • The term West Indies refers to the islands of the Caribbean.

8. Independence in Latin America: Haiti, Toussaint l’Overture

9. Independence in Latin America: Haiti • After years of being forced to work under the rule of France, the people of Haiti wanted their freedom. • In August of 1791, thousands of slaves rebelled. • Toussaint l’Overture led a group of former slaves to take over French plantations in Saint-Domingue. • Toussaint allied with Spain when France and Spain went to war. • France then declared that any slave that fought with them would be granted freedom. • Toussaint and his men joined with France against Spain and England. • In July of 1801, after driving the Spanish out, Toussaint was named governor-general for life.

10. Independence in Latin America: Haiti • France then took Saint-Domingue back, and Toussaint was forced to surrender in 1802. • Despite his surrender, France took Toussaint prisoner. • This enraged the people of Saint-Domingue and Cristophe and Dessalines, two of Toussaint’s lieutenants, took up the fight with France. • On New Year’s Day in 1804, they declared Haiti’s independence. • Haiti was the first Latin American country to gain freedom from European control.

11. Independence in Latin America: South America, Simon Bolivar, also known as El Liberator

12. Independence in Latin America: South America, Simon Bolivar • South America had to fight a series of wars in order to gain independence from European powers. • Instability in Spain following its defeat by France, weakened its hold on its colonies. • Simon Bolivar, a wealthy Venezuealan criollo, had a vision of freeing his homeland. • He gathered a group of like-minded men to make this happen. • On April 19, 1810, he and his men kicked the imperial governor out of Caracas. • A year later, they declared Venezuela an independent republic. • Loyalists to Spain however, defeated Bolivar, who then fled to New Granada which is now present day Colombia.

13. Independence in Latin America: South America, Simon Bolivar • In New Granada, Bolivar, organized an army. • He marched back to Venezuela and fought against the Spanish royalists. • On August 6, 1813, he liberated Caracas. • He was defeated again the next year. • He then fled to the Caribbean where he gained strength and followers. • Over the course of several years, he waged wars to free New Granada, Venezuela, and Ecuador.

14. Independence in Latin America: Mexico, Father Miguel Hidalgo

15. Independence in Latin America: Mexico • Mexico soon began to feel the need for freedom from Spain, and also took the chance while Spain was weakened by its defeat at the hands of France. • Father Miguel Hidalgo of the city of Dolores is one of the first to rally the people to the cause of Mexican freedom. • On September 16, 1810, he rang his church bells and summoned people to his church. • There he gave the famous Grotto de Delores, or Cry of Dolores, which was a speech urging the people to end the rule of the Spanish in Mexico. • He said “Long live our Lady of Guadalupe! Death to bad government! Death to the Spaniards!”

16. Independence in Latin America: Mexico • The people, fueled by Father Hidalgo’s speech, went on to form an army and went on to conquer the city of Guanajuato. • They marched on towards Mexico City where they were defeated by the royal army, under the command of General Felix Calleja. • Hidalgo retreated to the north and was captured on May 21, 1811. • He was found guilty of treason and put to death. • Despite his death, the movement for freedom continued. • Ten years later, on September 28, 1821, Mexico won its independence from Spain. • Today, when Mexico celebrates its independence, they celebrate the day Hidalgo shouted in Dolores.