Latin American Independence Movements

     Latin American Independence was the drive for independence from Spain and France by the Latin American people. There were many contributing factors that ultimately led to the uprising of Latin American colonies. Europe's strong hold on the economic and political life of Latin America, was creating friction between the Latin Colonies and the European nations. Eventually, this would become enough for the Latin American people and the drive for independence from France and Spain would begin.

The Independence of Latin America was a process caused by years of injustices, discriminations, and abuse, from the Spanish Crown upon the inhabitants of Latin America. Since the beginning the Spanish Crown used the Americas as a way to gain riches and become greater in power internationally. Three of the distinct causes leading Latin America to seek independence from Spain, were that Spain was restricting Latin America from financial growth, (this included restrictions from the Spain on international trade, tax burden, and laws which only allowed the Americas to buy from Spain), The different social groups within Latin America, felt the pressure of the reforms being implicated on them

After the age of enlightenment, colonies and nations around the world began questioning their rulers and ruling nations. Liberal and nationalist ideas spread across Europe and the world, especially after the French Revolution. When these beliefs spread to the colonies of America, independence movements and revolts occurred. The Latin American revolution and Haitian revolution were both significant events during the 19th century that affected both their respective nations and the world. While both revolutions resulted similarly such that a social hierarchy based on race existed after independence, they differ in that while the Latin American revolutions placed an emphasis on ending the Spanish casta system, Haitian revolution was based on freeing slaves.

Both Latin American revolutions and the American revolution were different in term of cause and the result it brought with it. For example, it was much easier for the Americans to gain independence than the Latin Americans because of the unity they manage to take and keep despite the discontent each colonist had against each other. Both of these revolutions were fighting for independence from the Old World because they could not stand the strict systems, applied to them by their mother countries, that prevented the development of a rapidly growing colonial economy. These policies were designed to maximize the trade of a nation to bring money into the suppressing powers but not for the colonists themselves.

What once was a relatively free and peaceful place started to feel the wrath of the cruel invaders. After decades of the Spanish rule, the Latin American colonies decided to finally take back what once was theirs. Latin America, under the rule of Spanish forces, faced problems. The revolutions that took place during this time were influenced by the ideas from the Age of Enlightenment.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, revolutions began to occur in Latin American colonies. Several European countries, including Spain, Portugal, etc. established colonies of citizens in the New World and the rest of the Americas. They served as a means of expansion and source of beneficial resources. Over increasing periods of time, however, the population began to consist of more creoles and native-born citizens. As a result, people began to create thoughts of their own heritage, and their own independent nations. These thoughts eventually coalesced into what is known today as the Latin American Revolution. The Latin American Revolutions were caused by the desire of elites to resist the intrusion and interference of Spain and other mother

“More than by force do they dominate us, by deception” were the words of Latin American revolution leader, Simon Bolivar. The Latin American revolution was a fight for independence from Spain, their mother country. In the colonies people were divided into different social groups. Beginning with the higher-classes the different classes were Peninsulares, Creoles, Mestizos, Mulattos, Indians and lastly slaves. The Creoles, American-born Spaniards, led this revolution for three reasons: desire of political control, to provide protection for their economic interests, and their fear towards social unrest.

During the colonial struggle for independence in the United States and Latin America, many strong antislavery sentiments were expressed. Among immigrants to the Western Hemisphere, free Europeans were the minority. The abolition of slavery still did not end racism nor was equality of rights, such as the right of women to vote still not passed. Revolutionary leaders in the United States and Latin America espoused constitutionalism as a reaction to the arbitrary and tyrannical authority of colonial rulers. Successful patriot leaders gained mass followings during their respective wars for independence

There was once a time when the Spanish, English, Portugal and others were conquering other countries and expanding their kingdoms for God, Glory and gold. In Latin America there were six social class the Peninsular, Creoles, Mestizos, Mulattoes, Slaves, and Indians. The Creoles wanted to be the top of the class because they were really from the Americas unlike the Peninsular but because they were from Spain. The rest of the people actually thought the Creoles were trying to gain, but they really wanted something to do in the government. So the real question is Latin America Independence: How Did the Creoles Lead the Fight? The three ways that the Creoles lead the fight were political,

When the Europeans first arrived in Latin America, they didn’t realize the immensity of their actions. As history has proven, the Europeans have imposed many things on the Latin American territory have had a long, devastating effect on the indigenous people. In the centuries after 1492, Europeans would control much of South America and impose a foreign culture upon the already established civilizations that existed before their arrival. These imposed ideas left the continent weak and resulted in the loss of culture, the dependence on European countries, and a long standing ethnic tension between natives and settlers which is evident even to this day. The indigenous people of South America, which

In processes of Independence in South American and Brazil happened very differently. In the Spanish American process of revolution there were lots of movements for rebellion (Chasteen:93). Many of the movements were set in motion when the king of Spain, Carlos IV, and Prince Fernando, were captured by Neapolitan (Chasteen:92). The colonies questioned the leadership of the Spanish crown. In Mexico, two priests sparked different rebellions. Father Miguel Hidalgo gained support from indigenous and mestizo people with the phrase “Americans versus Europeans” (Chasteen:96). This turned into rebellion against the Peninsulars and, unintentionally, creole since it was difficult for the fighters to tell them apart (Chasteen:96). Father José María Morelos

Latin Americas desire to emulate European culture and race caused many hardships for people of color. Even before Latin America gained its independence, Natives and Africans were treated as inferior. During the neo-colonial period, the elites made it a point to imitate European culture and any

In the late 1930s, the urban jazz culture began in New York’s Harlem nightlife. Many young men of African American descent wore suits that had exaggerated shoulder pads, pegged trousers that were very tapered at the ankles, oversized coat, long dangling key chain and wide brimmed hats, this style is called the Zoot suit. According to the fashion reader, Cosgrove states that “ The word Zoot means worn or performed in its’ lavish style when, most jazz musicians wore, zoot suits on stage like, a famous jazz performer Cab Calloway.” Cab Calloway had inspired many of the young African Americans and Hispanics during his performances, which later changed to a form of expression on individuality, freedom and rights.

One of the first countries to achieve independence in Latin America was Haiti. Haiti gained its independence from France in 1804. Haiti's

The struggle of human society has always been about maintaining power. During the Age of Exploration, conquistadors and voyagers traveled across the world in search of new land, new people, and more importantly, new sources of bullion. Explorers like Pizarro and Cortés claimed the lands of ancient civilizations as colonies, ravaging the natives with disease and battle. The leading colonizers, primarily France, Spain, and Portugal, controlled every aspect of life for the Americanos. During this time, the Enlightenment was occurring in Europe. Writers like Locke, Voltaire, Montesquieu, and Rousseau inspired revolutions with ideas of natural rights, toleration, separation of powers, and equality. These philosophers inspired revolution, or uprising against a mother country, in the United States, France, and eventually Latin America. The main influences on the Latin American rebellions were the Enlightenment ideas of of equality, self rule, and freedom.