World Cultures 11

Unit III: Latin America

Name: ______________________________
Date:

LATIN AMERICAN PEOPLES WIN INDEPENDENCE

Directions: After reading the document below, please answer the following questions completely and
thoroughly in complete sentence format.
Background Question:
1. What three factors motivated the people of Latin America to rebel against their European
controllers?
The three factors that motivated the people to rebel were the following: Liberty, Equality, and
Democratic Rule.

Haitian Independence
1. Who controlled the colony of Haiti and what two leaders where responsible for their
independence?
Toussaint LOuverture, and Jean-Jacques Dessalines.

2. Why were they able to win their independence so quickly and easily?
There were many more enslaved Africans on Haiti than French masters at the time. When Toussaint,
former slave, rose as the leader, he knew the ratio of slaves to leaders was in his favor and took
advantage of it in a revolt.

3. How was this movement for independence different from revolutions in the rest of Latin
America? [You will have to answer this question after reading the entire document.]
This movement for independence was easier than most because it did not require the bloody
battles, major revolutions. The slaves knew they were more numerous than the owners, and only
needed a leader to guide them to independence.

Viceroyalty of Peru
1. Identify and explain the specific events on the European continent effected the movement for
independence in Peru.
San Martin used the help of Ohiggins, former viceroy of Peru, to help Chile gain their independence.
San Martin met with military leader Simon Bolivar in Gauyaquil, Ecuador. No one knows the agreement
they came to, but it ended with San Martin leaving his army under Bolivars rule, and Bolivar conquered
the Spanish army in Peru. That was the last major battle in the war for independence.

2. The movement from independence was spearheaded by what two creoles. Who were they and
explain how they were able to gain it.
The 2 creoles that spearheaded independence were Simon Bolivar who was a wealthy Venezuelan creole,
and Jose de San Martin who was a great liberator from Argentina. Bolivar was the head of a volunteer
army that had many defeats. Bolivar had gone into exile twice! However, in 1819 in august, Bolivar led
over 2000 soldiers into the Andes, and what is now Columbia and took the Spanish army in Bogota by
complete surprise. By 1821, Bolivar had declared Venezuelas complete independence. From there he
went to Ecuador and met with San Martin. Jose de San Martin joined forces with OHiggins and
declared Chile independent. From there, he left his army under Bolivars rule and from there he
conquered the Spanish army in Peru, ending the last big battle in the independence war.

3. What name did they give to the independent viceroyality?

The name given to the Independent Viceroyalty was Gran Colombia.
Viceroyalty of New Spain
1. How did the movement for independence differ from that of Peru?
Peru gained independence by influential generals who led attacks with their army to conquer the
Spanish army. New Spain was dictated by Iturbide. He claimed himself leader until he was overthrown
in 1823 when he refused to recognize the declarations of independence.

2. The movement began with the leadership of what two leaders? Explain their rebellion and its
successes/failures.
Padres Miguel Hidalgo and Jose Maria Morelos. Hidalgo led an army of over 80,000 men to Mexico City,
but was defeated in 1811. Morelos was defeated by a Creole after continuing the revolution for 4 years.

3. Ironically, a creole DID eventually was successful in gaining freedom from Spain. Who was he,
and whey did favor independence in 1820 when he did not earlier?

The Same Creole who defeated Morelos, announced the independence for New Spain in 1821 because a
revolution in Spain made a liberal group gain power and made them fear the loss of privileges for the
Creoles.

4. What government/title did this liberator give the newly independent viceroyalty?
What happened to his government?
Iturbide proclaimed himself the dictator, and full power leader. He was overthrown in 1823
because he did not recognize the declarations of independence.

Brazil
1. Why was this colony governed differently than the Spanish colonies just prior to indepence?
This particular colony was governed differently because the royal family was a prominent element by
escaping Napoleon, and fleeing to Brazil. When Napoleon was finally overthrown and stripped of power,
they returned and appointed Pedro the First in control.

2. How did the movement for independence differ in this Portuguese colony than those of the
Spanish colonies?
This recipe for independence of the Portuguese colony differed from those of the Spanish colonies
because there was little violence or bloodshed. The Spanish colonies were taken by military force.