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The Latin American Revolutions

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Explore the Creoles' influence on Latin American independence movements, the Enlightenment's impact, and key figures like Simón Bolívar and José de San Martín. Understand the diverse paths to independence across colonies, the revolutions' consequences, and the formation of new nations with their challenges.

The Creoles and Their Role in Latin American Independence Movements

The Creoles, or 'criollos', were a significant social class in the Spanish and Portuguese colonies of Latin America who were of European descent but born in the New World. Their unique position as colonists excluded from the highest echelons of colonial administration, which were reserved for the 'peninsulares' (those born in Spain or Portugal), fostered a sense of injustice and fueled their desire for political and economic autonomy. As educated elites, many Creoles were influenced by Enlightenment ideas and sought to apply these principles to their own situation, leading to their prominent role in the independence movements. By the early 19th century, Creole leaders had become the driving force behind the revolutionary campaigns that ultimately dismantled colonial rule across the continent.
19th-century military reenactment with soldiers in blue coats and white trousers, a horseman with a flag, on a cobblestone plaza surrounded by pastel colonial buildings.

Influences and Causes of the Latin American Revolutions

The Latin American Revolutions were the result of a complex interplay of historical forces, including the dissemination of Enlightenment thought advocating for liberty, equality, and fraternity, as well as the influence of other revolutionary movements, such as the American and French Revolutions. The Napoleonic Wars, particularly the invasion of the Iberian Peninsula and the abdication of Spanish King Ferdinand VII, created a power vacuum in the colonies and led to the formation of local governing juntas. These juntas, while initially professing loyalty to the deposed monarch, laid the groundwork for the assertion of independence. In Brazil, the transfer of the Portuguese court to Rio de Janeiro in 1808 and the subsequent liberal revolution in Portugal in 1820 prompted Brazilian elites to pursue a separate national identity, culminating in the declaration of an independent Brazilian Empire under Dom Pedro I.

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00

The ______, or 'criollos', were Europeans born in Latin America, excluded from top colonial roles reserved for 'peninsulares'.

Creoles

01

By the early ______ century, Creole leaders spearheaded the revolutions that ended colonial dominance in Latin America.

19th

02

Impact of Enlightenment on Latin American Revolutions

Enlightenment ideas of liberty, equality, fraternity influenced leaders, fueling revolutionary desires.

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