Latin American Peoples Win Independence

​Latin American Peoples Win Independence

By Miguel Angel Carrasco

Latin American society was divided into six rigid classes.

• Peninsulares (born in Spain) – top class.

• Creoles (born in Latin America of Spanish ancestry).

• Mestizos (European + Native American ancestry).

• Mulattos (European + African ancestry).

• Africans – enslaved or free.

• Indians – the lowest class.

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​Colonial Society Divided

Multiple Choice

Which groups in Latin American colonial society had European ancestry?

• Peninsulares and Creoles

• Mestizos and Indians

• Mulattos and Africans

• Indians and Creoles

Haiti was the first Latin American colony to win independence.

• French colony of Saint Domingue.

• 1791: 100,000 African slaves revolted.

• Leader: Toussaint L’Ouverture.

• Napoleon sent troops in 1802—defeated.

• 1804: Haiti declared independence.

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​Haitian Revolution

Multiple Choice

True or False: Haiti won independence after enslaved Africans, led by Toussaint L’Ouverture, defeated Napoleon’s troops.

• True

• False

Creoles wanted independence because they resented Spanish control.

• Napoleon placed his brother on the Spanish throne.

• Creoles refused loyalty to the new king.

• Leaders: Simón Bolívar (Venezuela, political thinker & fighter) and José de San Martín (Argentina, Chile).

• 1824: Combined armies defeated Spanish forces → independence for all Spanish colonies in South America.​

​Creoles Lead Independence

Multiple Choice

Which two leaders played major roles in South America’s independence?

• Miguel Hidalgo and Toussaint L’Ouverture

• Simón Bolívar and José de San Martín

• Napoleon and Bolívar

• Morelos and San Martín

Mexico’s independence movement was led by lower classes at first, then supported by creoles.

• 1810: Miguel Hidalgo (village priest) called for revolt.

• Continued by José María Morelos.

• Early revolts failed, but later creoles joined in.

• 1821: Mexico won independence.

• 1823: Central America separated from Mexico.

​Mexico Ends Spanish Rule

Multiple Choice

True or False: Mexico’s independence movement was originally led by mestizos and Indians under Father Miguel Hidalgo.

• True

• False

Brazil achieved independence without bloodshed.

• 1822: 8,000 creoles asked Dom Pedro, son of Portugal’s king, to rule an independent Brazil.

• He agreed.

• Brazil declared independence peacefully.

Brazil's Royal Liberator

Multiple Choice

How did Brazil gain its independence?

• How did Brazil gain its independence?

• By being granted freedom from Spain.

• By asking Dom Pedro to rule, resulting in a bloodless revolt.

• Fought a Revolutionary
  War against Spain