Latin America

Latin america society

Rigid hierarchical social class, growth of a separate “american” identity among the colonists (nationalism)

Creoles

Established plantations & traded

esented administrative control & regulations by the iberian govt —> took part in revolts inspired by enlightenment

peninsulares

controlled govt, military, and church

mexican independence

napoleon’s invasion of spain and portugal weakened royal control of iberian colonies —> revolts against spanish rule in argentina, venezuela, and mexico

peasant rebellion in mexico

led by a parish priest of the indigenous and mestizos against colonial rule —> state of hidalgo became a symbol of mexican independence

augustin de iturbide

declared independence from spain and became emperor (dictatorship) —> displaced by creole elites and turned into republic

southern mexico

declared independence and split into independent states

simon bolivar

led independence movements against spanish rule with creole forces, which overcame spanish armies

great confederation

bolivar aimed to unite independent ex-spanish colonies

gran colombia

republic formed of venezuela, ecuador, peru

jamaica letter

letter in which bolivar outlines views influenced by enlightenment

pedro

king’s son; left as a regent in brazil when portuguese royal court fled from napoleon’s invasion —> became emperor pedro i in independent brazil

potuguese cortes (parliament)

attempted to limit power of pedro

caudillos

leaders with military authority from creole elites

creole dominance

maintained economic models; cheap labor for cash crops = slavery