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 were Liberty, Equality, and
Democratic Rule.

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

2. Why were they able to win their independence so quickly and easily?
In that time period, there were many more Africans that were enslaved than the French
masters. When Toussaint who was a slave at one period in time became the leader, he took
advantage of the ratio of slaves to leaders and formed 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 was very different because it did not require or have any bloodbath battles or crazy
revolutions. The slaves were much more than the owners and only needed someone to lead them.

Viceroyalty of Peru
1. Identify and explain the specific events on the European continent effected the movement for
independence in Peru.
OHiggins who was former viceroy of Peru helped San Martin which in turn lead to helping Chile gain
their Independence. Martin met with the military leader S. Bolivar in Ecuador. Nobody knows what
agreement the two came too, but it lead to Martin leaving his army under Bolivars rule. Bolivar
destroyed the Spanish army in Peru.

2. The movement from independence was spearheaded by what two creoles. Who were they and
explain how they were able to gain it.
The two creoles were Simon Bolivar and Jose De San Martin. Bolivar was a wealthy Venezuelan,
and San Martin was liberator form Argentina. Bolivar head a volunteer army with many defeats
and went into exile twice. But, Bolivar won a few battles and was able to declare independence
He then went to Ecuador and met with san Martin who joined forces with OHiggins and declared
Chile Independent.

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

The name was Gran Columbia.
Viceroyalty of New Spain
1. How did the movement for independence differ from that of Peru?
Peru gained their independence by having influential leaders leading their attacks to conquer the
Spanish.

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 lead and 80000 strong army to Mexico City but
was defeated and Morelos was defeated by a Creole.

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?
He was the same Creole that defeated Morelos. He announced the independence for New Spain in 1821
because a revolution in Spain made a liberal group gain power making them fear the Creoles losing their
privileges.

4. What government/title did this liberator give the newly independent viceroyalty?
What happened to his government?
Iturbide made himself Dictator and had 100 percent complete power. He was overthrown in
1823 because he didnt recognize the declaration of independence.

Brazil
1. Why was this colony governed differently than the Spanish colonies just prior to indepence?
The royal family escaped Napoleon and fled to Brazil. When Napoleon was overthrown, they returned
and made Pedro The first person in control.

2. How did the movement for independence differ in this Portuguese colony than those of the
Spanish colonies?
There was barely any violence or deaths. They were taken by military force.