BORN IN BLOOD AND FIRE

Chapter 3: Independence (pages 90-116)

KEY QUESTIONS What was the context in which

independence was gained? What events and ideas

influenced the revolutions? Who was and who was not

involved? To what extent were they involved?

How did the outcomes of the revolutions match the founding ideals?

EUROPEAN CONTEXT

Bad government in Spain Carlos IV drove

state into bankruptcy

Increased taxes and sale of political offices for revenue

Resentment among Spanish Americans

Violence and Invasion Napoleonic Wars

(1799-1815 Imprisonment of

Spanish king gave colonies de facto independence

EUROPEAN IDEAS FLY ACROSS THE ATLANTIC

Liberalism+

Sovereignty

SOCIAL HIERARCHIES AND REVOLUTIONARY CRIES

• Loyalists• Selected first• Privileged jobs

Peninsulars

• Compete with Peninsulars• RebelsCreoles

• Maybe rebels• 80% of the population• Annoyed by Creoles in daily

lifeNatives, Africans,

Mixed Descent

Slaves???

What was at stake for each of the

four?

AMERICAN REBELLIONS BEGIN SLOWLYMexico

Hidalgo inspires peasants, but “too indigenous for the Creoles

Father Morelos, a mestizo, energies creoles and lower classes

Peru Tupac Amaru II’s revolt of

1780s scare away creoles from uniting nativesVenezuela + Argentine

Both had active creole movements against Spain

Movements helped by experienced horsemen

!Viva la revolucion!

UNITING CREOLES AND NATIVES AGAINST SPAIN

CREOLES FOUND THEMSELVES IN A PICKLE

“NATIVISM”

Too few Creoles for a revolution

Considered indigenous rebellions dangerous

Need to unite with lower classes to fight Peninsulars

Birthplace distinguishes “them” from “us”

Creoles, Natives and Mestizo were now Americanos

Peninsulars were not Americanos

Now Americanos v Peninsulars

WHAT ABOUT BRAZIL?

BACKGROUND KEY DIFFERENCES

King Jao was living in Brazil to escape Napoleon

Jao left son to rule over Brazil when forced back to Portugal

New leader declared “Empire of Brazil”

No need to fight the king—the king declared independence

Imperial army too small to oppose declaration

THE LIBERATORS

SIMON BOLIVAR JOSE DE SAN MARTIN Began revolutions

in Venezuela Moved to Ecuador Finished the work

of an Martin after he fled to Europe

Launched surprise attack from Argentina through Chile

From Chile, captured Lima, Peru

Made his way towards the center of the continent, but had to flee

Bolivar finished liberation in highlands

UNFINISHED REVOLUTION?

SPANISH CONTROL CREOLE CONTROL Patriarchy Racism Classicism

Patriarchy Racism Classicism

WAS BOLIVAR THE LATIN GEORGE WASHINGTON?Let’s ask the President Obama

And Hugo Chavez!

VOCABULARY TO KNOW

Americanos

LegitimacyNativism

Sovereignty