LATIN AMERICAN PEOPLES WIN INDEPENDENCE

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 of Latin American to rebel was the
success of both the American and French Revolution, along with Enlightenment. All of these
changed the idea of the people of Latin America and made them think different about who
should control their government. The ideas of liberty, equality, and democratic rule traveled
across the sea to the European colonies.
Haitian Independence
1. Who controlled the colony of Haiti and what two leaders were responsible for their
independence? The people who controlled the colony of Haiti were the French. The two leaders
responsible for their independence were Toussaint LOuverture and Jean-Jacques Dessalines.
LOuverture was a former slave and Dessalines was a lieutenant to Dessalines.
2.Why were they able to win their independence so quickly and easily? They were able to win
their independence so quickly because their leader at the time, Toussaint LOuverture was
unfamiliar with the military and the diplomatic matters. It worked so well because by the year
1801, Toussaint had taken control of the entire island of Haiti and was able to free all the
Africans who were enslaved.
3. How was this movement for independence different from revolutions in the rest of Latin
America? The difference in the movement in Haiti for independence is that the colony had highly
skilled leaders that were able to end slavery. The skilled leaders were also able to declare the
colony as independent. In Latin America, many of the colonies had low class leaders that
declared their independence and defeated other countries. Haiti was the first black colony to
free themselves and become an independent nation.
Viceroyalty of Peru
1. Identify and explain the specific events on the European continent affected the movement for
independence in Peru. The specific event on the European continent that affected the
movement for independence in Peru was Bolivars Route to Victory and San Martin Lead the
Southern Liberation Forces. Besides the Bolivars Route to Victory and the Southern Liberation
Forces, there were rumors of an unloyal king.
2. The movement from independence was spearheaded by what two creoles. Who were they
and explain how they were able to gain it. San Martin and Bernardo OHiggins
3. What name did they give to the independent viceroyality? Gran Colombia
Viceroyalty of New Spain
1. How did the movement for independence differ from that of Peru? The movement didnt
produce a full social revolution.
2. The movement began with the leadership of what two leaders? Explain their rebellion and its
successes/failures. The leaders were Simon Bolivar and Jose de San Martin. Simon Bolivar was
exiled on numerous occasions.

3. Ironically, a creole DID eventually was successful in gaining freedom from Spain. Who was
he, and why did favor independence in 1820 when he did not earlier? Agustn de Iturbide gained
the independence, since there was a new power there.
4. What government/title did this liberator give the newly independent viceroyalty? What
happened to his government? Iturbide gave himself the name emperor and he was overthrown
in 1832. The government no longer existed and worked.
Brazil
1. Why was this colony governed differently than the Spanish colonies just prior to
independence? The colony of Brazil was governed differently than the Spanish colonies just
prior to independence because it was not ruled by the Spaniards and was under the rule of the
Portuguese.
2. How did the movement for independence differ in this Portuguese colony than those of the
Spanish colonies? The movement for independence differend in this Portuguese colony than
those of Spanish colonies because in this period of Latin American history, the independence
occurred without violence. A member of the royal family in Portuguese played a key role in
making Brazil independent from Portugal. Dom Pedro, the son of King John who ruled Spain,
officially declared Brazils independence On September 7, 1822.