The Latin American Independence Movement

SS6H2 The student will explain the development of Latin America and the Caribbean from European colonies to

independent nations.

Colonization

• The governments of Spain and Portugal ruled most of Latin America for nearly three hundred years.

• The American Revolution of 1776 gave Latin Americans the idea that they too could be free.

Toussaint L’Ouverture

• He was born a slave in the mid-1700s.

• His father had been a free African who was captured and sold into slavery in Saint Domingue.

• Toussaint was allowed to learn to read and write by his plantation owner.

• He became a famous black freedom fighter.

• He was a major leader of the slave revolts in Saint Domingue (Present Day-Haiti)

The French Revolution

• The French Revolution of 1789• The new French government gained freedom for

all free blacks and mulattoes (those of African and European ancestors).

• Plantation owners in Saint Dominque were furious.

• In 1791, the French government changed its mind and took back the freedom it had given the blacks and mulattoes.

Slave Revolt

• Toussaint led a slave army and defeated the French troops.

• By 1793, the French government had abolished slavery altogether.

• Toussaint lead his men against invading British and Spanish troops.

• In the end, Toussaint was left in charge of Domingue even though it was officially a French colony.

Emperor Napoleon and Toussaint

• In 1802, the French emperor Napoleon sent troops to Saint Domingue to regain control .

• He tricked Toussaint!• He was sent to France and placed in

prison where he died. • Within two years, the people of Saint

Domingue declared their independence and renamed their country Haiti.

Question: 248

• Toussaint L’Ouverture was famous for his role in gaining independence for which country?

• A. Cuba

• B. Haiti

• C. Mexico

• D. Venezuela

Question: 249

• Which country’s government imprisoned Toussaint L’Ouverture?

• A. France

• B. Great Britain

• C. Haiti

• D. Spain

Question: 250

• Which important goal did Toussaint L’Ouverture want to achieve?

• A. freedom for the slaves in Saint Domingue

• B. Improve production on sugar cane plantations

Question: 251

• Which childhood event allowed Toussaint L’Ouverture to learn ides about freedom and equality?

• A. His owner allowed him to learn to read and write.

• B. He made a trip to France.

Simon Bolivar

• Simon Bolivar was a leader in the wars for independence in South America. He and other leaders fought against Spanish rule.

• Simon Bolivar and other leaders wanted independence for all people in Latin America. Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela won their independence through his efforts.

Biography of Simon Bolivar

• Bolivar was born in 1783, in Caracas, in what is now Venezuela. He was from a wealthy family. He had an excellent education and read many books with ideas on freedom and equality.

• He lived at the time of the French Revolution and learned of the defeat of the French royal family.

1810-1824

• Bolivar led different groups of troops against Spanish rule. He fought in the lands that are now Venezuela, Colombia, and Panama.

• He was able to finally defeat the Spanish in 1824 and end Spanish rule in South America.

Bolivia

• The country of Bolivia was named in honor of Bolivar, and he wrote a constitution to organize the country.

• Bolivar is known as “The Liberator” in South America. He is also known as the “George Washington of South America.”

Simon Bolivar as Dictator

• He became dictator and tried to create a single, large South American country called Gran Colombia.

• It covered the entire northern part of South America. Fights among different groups caused the different countries to break up.

• Bolivar became infected with tuberculosis and died from the disease in 1830.

Grand Colombia Map

252. Simon Bolivar was known as the liberator for which people?

• A. Indigenous people

• B. Mexicans

• C. South Americans

• D. Spanish soldiers

253. Which country got its independence

because of Simon Bolivar’s efforts?

• A. Canada

• B. Mexico

• C. United States

• D. Venezuela

254. Which country’s revolution encouraged

Bolivar to fight for independence?

• A. France

• B. Mexico

• C. Spain

• D. Venezuela

255. Which country did Bolivar and his fellow patriots fight against?

• A. France

• B. Mexico

• C. Spain

• D. Venezuela

Miguel Hidalgo

• He is known as the father of Mexican independence.

• He was a priest who led a peasant army against the Spanish army in Mexico, which was then called New Spain. His army won some victories, but he did not live to see independence.

Biography of Hidalgo

• He was born in 1753. his family saw that he got a good education.

• He enjoyed reading books with ideas on freedom and equality.

• He saw that there was no equality for the peasant workers in Mexico.

• He saw that people born in Spain got special treatment compared to people born in Mexico.

He trained to be a priest and worked among the native people and peasants

Hidalgo and the Independence Movement

• In 1810, France invaded Spain, and the king was removed.

• This created problems in Mexico.

• People in Mexico were not sure they supported the new French government.

• Others did not support the old Spanish government.

• Hidalgo and several of his friends were a part of a third group that believed it was time for Mexico to be independent.

1810-1821

• Hidalgo was warned that he was going to be arrested. Those loyal to the French government turned him in.

• On September 16, Hidalgo gave a speech encouraging freedom for Mexico.

• Thousands followed Hidalgo and they won many victories against the Spanish.

• Unfortunately, Hidalgo and his followers did not have many weapons.

• The Spanish took Hidalgo prisoner. He was tried and executed for treason.

• He was executed by Spanish soldiers on July 30, 1811.

• In 1821, Spain withdrew its last troops from Mexico.

256. Miguel Hidalgo was known as the father of independence for which country?

• A. Bolivia

• B. Mexico

• C. Peru

• D. Venezuela

257. What job did Miguel Hidalgo have in Mexico?

• A. general

• B. peasant

• C. priest

• D. soldier

258. What event caused people in Mexico to begin to think about independent?

• A. France took over Spain and removed the king.

• B. Mexico had many peasants who were unhappy.

• C. Spain sent additional troops to fight against Hidalgo.

• D. Thousands of people followed Hidalgo after his speech.