Latin America Revolutions Vocabulary

Creole Revolutions

Descendants of European settlers born in the Americas who led Latin America independence movements in the early 19th century, resulting in the expulsion of the colonial regime of the Spanish Empire.

Napoleonic Wars

Series of major global conflicts pitting the French Empire and its allies, led by Napoleon I, against a fluctuating array of European powers formed into various coalitions. It produced a period of French domination over most of continental Europe. The wars had profound consequences on global history, including the spread of nationalism and liberalism, the rise of Britain as the world's foremost naval and economic power, the appearance of independence movements in Latin America and subsequent decline of the Spanish Empire and Portuguese Empire. The Congress of Vienna redrew the borders of Europe and brought a period of relative piece.

Central Junta

Interim Spanish government/national resistance committee formed in Spain to support legitimate Spanish king and oppose Napoleon's brother on the throne; mostly represented Spanish people, not so much the Spanish-American people so they began forming their own juntas.

Simon Bolivar

Born to a wealthy Creole family in what is now Venezuela, he was the most influential leader in the South American independence movement. Known simply as "the Liberator", this nationalist led military campaigns against the Spanish in present day Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. He had hoped that these South American nations could join together as one large nation. He never saw this dream come true but did live to see these countries liberated from Spain.

Letter from Jamaica

Document written by Simon Bolivar in 1815 in which he explained his thoughts about the social and political situation of Spanish America and called to Europe for it to co-operate in the work to liberate the Latin American peoples.

Gran Colombia

Centralized state from 1819 to 1831 that encompassed much of northern South America including present day Columbia, Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela in which Simon Bolivar was president over; its formation inspirited independence movements in Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico.

Nationalism

Being loyal to and proud of one's own personal country often with the belief that it is better and more important than other countries.

Nativism

The policy of protecting the interests of native-born or established inhabitants against those of immigrants/foreigners.

Popular Sovereignty

The principle that the authority of a state and its government are created and sustained by the consent of its people, through their elected representative, who are the source of political power.

Father Miguel Hidalgo

Known as the Father of the Mexican Independence, he was a Mexican priest and nationalist who was arrested and executed in his role in rallying revolutionary actions. Born into a Creole family and resenting the power given to the peninsulares, he gave a speech (Cry of Dolores) to members of his church in which he shouted, "Death to bad government and death to the Spaniards." He then marched across Mexico gathering an army of nearly 90,000 poor farmers and Mexican civilians who attacked and killed Spanish peninsulares, but was later captured by Spanish forces.

Jose de San Martin

Nationalist and Argentine general who was the leader of the independence movements in Argentina, Peru, and Chile against the Spanish Empire; he served as the Protector of Peru.

Jose Antonio Paez

Venezuelan leader who fought against the Spanish Crown for Simon Bolivar and later served as president of Venezuela or as the power behind the puppet presidents; he is considered a prime example of a 19th century South American caudillo.

Mexican War of Independence

Armed conflict between 1810 to 1821 resulting in Mexico's independence from Spain. Pre-existing cultural, religious and racial divides in Mexico played a major role in not only the development of the independence movement but also the development of the conflict as it progressed.

Benito Juarez

26th President of Mexico from 1858 to 1872 who became a symbol of Mexican nationalism and resistance to foreign intervention when he successfully organized a military resistance to drive out the French who had invaded the country.