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Latin American Independence:

Why did the Creoles Lead the Fight?

Background Essay Questions

1. Why did Spain create colonies in Latin America?
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Because Spain was the most powerful country in Europe.

2. Which countries experienced revolutions during the late 18th and early 19th centuries?
France

3. How many racial groups existed in Latin America during the 18th century? 4 groups

4. From which social class did most Latin American revolutionaries come?

5. Use the text to define these terms:

● Viceroys: Political leaders who ruled colonies
● Mercantilism: a system where colonies serve the mother country
● Monopoly: a majority control over colonial trade
● Peninsularés: Spanish born colonizers
● Creoles: Spanish people who born in the colonies
● Mestizos: People mixed with European and Native American blood
● Mulattos: People mixed with European and African blood
Timeline
1492 – Italian Christopher Columbus, sailing for Spain, reaches the Americas.
1780 – Industrial Revolution begins in England.
1776 – North American colonies declare independence from England.
1789 – French revolution begins. King Louis XVI is executed in 1793.
1803 – Thomas Jefferson purchases Louisiana Territory from Napoleon Bonaparte.
1804 – Simón Bolívar attends Napoleon I’s coronation in France.
Haiti becomes an independent country from France.
1809-1824 – Rebellions for independence rage throughout Latin America.
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Document Analysis

1. Using the Background Essay as a reminder, which social class or classes would be
“Americans by birth and Europeans by law” in Latin America in 1819?
Creole
2. What is the “dual conflict” Bolivar describes?
2 Sided
3. Focusing on the word “we,” which social class do you think Bolivar means when he says,
“We are disputing with the natives for titles of ownership”?
Europeans
4. To whom is Bolivar referring when he speaks of “invaders”?

5. Simon Bolivar uses the words “us” and “we” repeatedly in this short passage. Why do you
think he does that?

6. How could you use this document to explain why Creoles led the fight in the revolution
against Spain? A Spanish colony after another declared independence from Spain
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Document Analysis

1. What was the difference between Creoles and peninsularés?

The Creoles had growing economic and social influence
The Peninsulars monopolized administrative positions
2. In the rivalry between the Creoles and the peninsularés, what kind of power did the Creoles
have and what kind of power did the peninsularés have?

3. How did the Creoles think independence might change their position?

4. How could you use this document to answer the question, why did the Creoles lead the
fight for Latin American independence?
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Document Analysis

1. Identify two economic policies that are making Creoles like Juan Pablo Viscardo angry.
Creoles are angry because they were forced to sell their products at low artificially prices
and limits are placed on what they can do.
2. What example does Viscardo use to show how Americans are being hurt by Spanish price-
fixing? Iron cause five or six dollars in Europe but cost a hundred dollars in America.

3. Who does Viscardo think should be in charge of the American economy?

Americanos
4. How could you use this document to respond to the question, why did the Creoles take the
lead in the fight for independence? Creoles want to fight for their Independence because
they are not getting the help or the things they need or want.
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Directions: In essay format (at least 3 paragraphs) answer the question below. Be sure to
use evidence from the primary source documents to support your answer.

Latin American Independence: Why Did the Creoles Lead the Fight?

Introduction Paragraph:Why Did the Creoles Lead the Fight? I Would Be Telling You Now, Which Is Where
Juan Pablo Viscardo Was Born. And why are Juan Viscardo and the Creoles angry? im just about to tell you
in my summary Is it because their not getting things they want or need is that why they led to this fight? Or
was it a just big mix up?

Body Paragraph: The First, reason why the Creoles wanted to fight is because their probably not getting the
help or things they want or need. And my evidence for my first reason is when it said one Spanish colony
after another wanted to declare independence on Spain, i’m thinking maybe the Creoles wanted Spain all to
them self so their wanting something and their not getting it so that’s what may be what lead to the fight . My
Second, reason why I think they led the fight is because Creoles were forced to sell their products at low
prices and had limits placed on what they can do.

Closing Paragraph:In this summary i figured out why the Creoles was angry and lead to the fight the reasons
makes since to me now just like for one of my reasons why were they were mad is because they had to sell
their stuff at low prices and had limits placed on what they can do.

Strengths
-Writes and distinguishes multiple paragraphs
-Answered the question
-Incorporates evidence
-Attempts to analyze evidence

Grows
-Properly citing evidence
-Explaining how evidence supports your opinion
-Grammar and punctuation