Revolutions in Latin America (19c - Early 20c)

1. Revolutions in Latin America (19c - Early 20c) Ms. Susan M. Pojer & Ms. Lisbeth RathHorace Greeley HS Chappaqua, NY

2. European Empires: 1660s

3. 16c-18c: New Ideas Brewing in Europe

4. Causes of Latin AmericanRevolutions • Enlightenment Ideas  writings of John Locke, Voltaire, & Jean Rousseau; Thomas Jefferson and Thomas Paine. • Creole discontent at being left out of government jobs and trade concessions. • Inspiration of American and French Revolutions. • Preoccupation of Spain & Portugal in fighting the Napoleonic Wars.

5. Creole Discontent • Peninsulares ~1% of the population (Spanish-born) dominated the church and government • Creoles ~20 % of the population, like wealthy members of the Third Estate in France. Landowners.

6. 3. Inspiration of American & French Revolutions Declaration of the Rights of Man & of the Citizen, 1789 Declaration of Independence, 1776

7. 4. Preoccupation of Spain & Portugal In Fighting Napoleonic Wars

8. Napoleon on the March 1808- Napoleon installs his own brother on the throne in Spain

9. Latin American Revolutions 1810-1830

10. Different routes • Venezuela’s creoles revolt in 1810 declare a republic • Peru: initially no movement toward independence. The Creoles traumatized by Tupac Amaru rebellion of 1780s. • Mexico: there is a revolt not from the creoles but from the mestizos –we’ll get to that in a minute • Agentina rises up: Creoles in the cities vs. rural populations.

11. A question to ponder • What kind the successful revolts Latin America taking place at first? Think back to what you learned in the Fall! • Come on, you remember…

12. Simón Bolivar: The “Brains”of theRevolution • Creole leader of the revolutions in Venezuela. • Spent time in Europe and the newly-independent United States.

13. Bolivar’s revolt • Venezuela’s revolt falls apart: 1811 an earthquake in Caracas • 1815 Napoleon loses at Waterloo. Spanish King regains throne and Spain sends an army to retake Venezuela. The Llaneros side with the Spanish against the rebels. • Bolivar flees to Jamaica, asks for British help and pledges to “abolish slavery” • 1817, Boliver returns and frees Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador with the aid of the Llaneros this time.

14. “Nativism” • Creoles too few to successfully rebel. The answer: include mestizos and others; key word is americanos

15. Bolivar joins forces with José de San Martin of Argentina

16. The “Muscle” of the Revolution Bolivar coming from the North. José de St. Martínand Bernard O’Higgins (Chile) cross the Andes Mountains.

17. Bolivar’s Accomplishment After uniting Venezuela, Colombia & Ecuador into Gran Colombia, Bolivar left to help free the rest of Latin America.

18. Mexico’s independence- a tale of two revolts • A parish priest named Miguel de Hidalgo y Costilla leads a revolt of poor Indians and mestizos • The Creole elite, scared by the French and Haitian revolutions, sides with the Spanish to put down the revolt. Hidalgo is executed in 1811 • 1821 Conservative Mexicans revolt against liberal reforms of the Spanish Crown • Independence brought no social or economic reforms to Mexico

19. Meanwhile…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.

20. Brazil continued • Constitutional monarchy until overthrown 1889 by a republican movement • Brazil was the last nation in the Western world to abolish slavery--1888

21. Bolivar & San Martin Fight for Independence

22. LatinAmerican StatesAfter the Revolutions

23. No United States of Latin America • Bolivar dies in 1830 and so does his dream for a united South America • By 1830s, geographic factors (mts., the Amazon, etc.) plus cultural differences defeated attempts at unification. • Many newly independent countries struggle with civil wars.

24. Independence Brought More Poverty • The wars disrupted trade. • The wars devastated the cities and the countryside.

25. Additional Problems • Dependence on a few products (monoculture) • Geographic/transportation barriers. • The social hierarchy didn’t change. • Conservatives favored the old social order and overcame liberals who wanted land reform. • Dependence on foreign nations for capital and for economic investments. Raw materials.

26. Left Many Countries in the Control of Caudillos • Who were the “caudillos”? • 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.

27. Left Many Countries in the Control of Caudillos • Overthrew governments and took away basic human rights. • Government based on patronage and corruption • 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!]. Top heavy military

28. The Caribbean:An “American Lake”