Latin America Test 1: Revolutions and Key Figures

Maya

Advanced Mesoamerican civilization in the Yucatán; known for writing, astronomy, and pyramids and individual city states.

Aztec

Empire in central Mexico with capital Tenochtitlán; conquered by Hernán Cortés.

Inca

Empire in the Andes; known for road systems, architecture, and terrace farming; conquered by Pizarro.

Mercantilism

Economic system where colonies existed to enrich the mother country export more import less.

Renaissance

Cultural rebirth in Europe; encouraged exploration with new technology.

Conquista Señorial

Spanish nobility-led conquests establishing Spanish control over Indigenous lands conquesters gifted with said land.

Silk Road

Trade routes connecting Europe and Asia; blocked by the Ottoman Empire, motivating sea exploration.

Christopher Columbus

Italian navigator who 'discovered' the Americas in 1492.

Conquistadors

Spanish conquerors of the Americas.

Balboa

Sneaks onto boat to New world, establishes small army for western expedition and Governor of eastern Terra Firma.

Cortés

Lost power in Cuba, raises army to campaign against Aztecs. Kidnaps King Moctezuma the second and controls Aztec until he's chased out. Comes back with big army and becomes Governor of New Spain.

Pizarro

Wants Incas wealth so he tries to conquer them but it takes three years because they're big and the Andes.

Avilés

Finds goods in Florida and sends it back to Spain which was called the treasure voyage.

Cabral

Established colony in Brazil.

Magellan

Led first circumnavigation of the globe died before it finished.

The Columbian Exchange

Exchange of goods, ideas, and diseases between the Old and New Worlds and unified the isolated Americas.

Diseases

Reason conquering occurred and weakened many nations like the Aztecs.

Treaty of Tordesillas

Agreement dividing the New World between Spain and Portugal and Pope said they owned the land.

Catholic Church

Central institution in colonization, spreading Christianity and supporting Spanish rule.

Requerimiento

Natives must convert and become vassals of the church, Natives must submit to Spanish rule, or they can be subject to punishments

Patronage Systems

Spain funds churches in New World which leads to forced conversion of Amerindians.

Catholic Orders

Religious groups (e.g., Jesuits) active in conversion and education.

Hacienda

Plantation systems of large land holding, profit-making enterprises

Encomienda

Initial labor system of Spain’s Latin American colonies, Conquer land, the king grants you the land and free labor of the Natives living there, Europeans are expected to protect laborers and their families as well as try to convert them

De Las Casas

Spanish priest who advocated for Indigenous rights.

Valladolid Debate

Debate over the morality of Spanish conquest and treatment of Indigenous peoples.

New Laws

1542 laws limiting the power of encomenderos and protecting Indigenous people.

Repartimiento

Tribute labor system where Native community leaders in all areas were required to provide a quota to work in cycles

Triangle Trade

Transatlantic trade of goods, slaves, and raw materials.

Slavery

Forced labor of Africans in plantations and mines.

Treasure Fleets

Spanish ships carrying wealth from the Americas to Europe.

Piracy/Privateers

Pirates (often state-sponsored) who attacked treasure ships.

Casta System

Racial hierarchy in colonial Latin America.

Peninsular

Europeans sent to the New World to help run colonies.

Creoles

Spaniards born in the Americas; wealthy but excluded from top power positions.

Mestizo

Mixed European and Indigenous ancestry.

Indios

Indigenous peoples of the Americas.

Mixed

Individuals of mixed racial backgrounds.

Negro

Term used for African-descended individuals (historical context).

Council of the Indies

Spanish government body overseeing the colonies.

Vice Royalties

Major administrative divisions of Spanish America.

Audiencias

Colonial courts with administrative and judicial functions.

Redensia

A colonial administrative system.

Inflation

Economic issue due to influx of silver from the Americas.

The Enlightenment

European intellectual movement emphasizing reason, liberty, and individual rights.

Industrial Revolution

Technological and economic changes in Europe that affected colonial economies.

Creole Elite

Wealthy, American-born Spaniards who led independence movements.

American Revolution

Inspired Latin American colonies to fight for independence.

French Revolution

Spread revolutionary ideas of liberty and equality.

Napoleonic Wars

Weakened Spain and Portugal, creating openings for colonial uprisings.

Saint-Domingue

French colony; now Haiti first and only successful slave uprising in Latin America

Hispaniola

Island shared by Haiti (west) and the Dominican Republic (east).

Santo Domingo

Spanish colony on the east side of Hispaniola.

Toussaint L'Ouverture

Leader of the Haitian Revolution.

Slave Rebellions

Uprisings against slavery, most successful in Haiti.

Dessalines

Took over after Toussaint; declared Haitian independence in 1804.

Napoleon

Tried to retake Saint-Domingue; failed due to resistance and disease.

War of Independence

1791-1804 revolution that led to Haiti becoming the first Black republic.

Simón Bolívar

Leader of independence movements in northern South America.

Influences on Bolívar

Enlightenment, Napoleon, U.S. and French revolutions.

Cartagena Manifesto

Bolívar's call for unity and strong leadership after failed republics.

The Letter from Jamaica

Bolívar's vision for a united Latin America.

Battle of Boyacá

Decisive victory in 1819 that secured New Granada's independence.

José de San Martín

Led independence movements in the south (Argentina, Chile, Peru).

Guayaquil Conference

1822 meeting between Bolívar and San Martín; debated the future of Latin America.

Bolivia

Named after Bolívar; gained independence in 1825.

Bolivarian Governance

Bolívar's vision of centralized, stable governments in Latin America.

João VI

Portuguese king who fled to Brazil during the Napoleonic Wars.

Pedro I

Declared Brazil's independence in 1822; became its first emperor.

Pedro II

Son of Pedro I; ruled Brazil until the monarchy was abolished in 1889.

Regresso

Conservative political movement that rolled back reforms in Brazil during the 1830s-40s.

Hidalgo Revolt

1810 uprising led by Miguel Hidalgo; marked the start of Mexican independence.

Plan of Iguala

1821 agreement for Mexican independence, unity, and Catholicism.