Independence

Independence Movements of Latin America

Were Latin American Were Latin American countries happy?countries happy?

• Countries in Latin America wanted to be free from European rule!

• So did the American colonies!

• Latin America drew encouragement from two Latin America drew encouragement from two independence movements: independence movements: thethe American American Revolution (1770s) and the French Revolution (1770s) and the French Revolution (1789).Revolution (1789).

HaitiHaiti• 1st independence

movement• RULED BY FRANCERULED BY FRANCE• Toussaint L’Ouverture, a a

former slaveformer slave, lead the people in Night of Fire.

• The Night of Fire- The Night of Fire- all white people’s property in Haiti was burned.

• 10 years of fighting. • Only successful slave Only successful slave

rebellion in the history of rebellion in the history of the worldthe world..

MexicoMexico• Miguel Hidalgo, a priest,

Mexico began the fight for freedom in 1810.

• On September 16, 1810, Hidalgo rang the church bells and shouted “recover from the “recover from the hated Spaniards the land hated Spaniards the land stolen from your forefathers … stolen from your forefathers … Long live America, and death Long live America, and death to the bad government!”to the bad government!”

• This cry came to be known as the “Cry of Dolores”. That is That is why Mexicans celebrate their why Mexicans celebrate their independence day on independence day on September 16September 16thth every year. every year.

MexicoMexico• Hidalgo’s revolution attracted 80,000 80,000

fightersfighters, mostly mestizos and Native Americans, but they were defeated by the Spanish.

• Hidalgo was put on trial for treason and Hidalgo was put on trial for treason and executed by firing squadexecuted by firing squad!!!!

• Mexican rebels were so mad about Hidalgo that they fought even harder!!!!

Mexico’s MiracleMexico’s Miracle• Everything changed when an

important Spanish officer joined the Mexicans. His name was Agustin de Iturbide

• With his help, Mexico declared its With his help, Mexico declared its independence from Spain in independence from Spain in 1821! 1821! It was 10 long years of struggle!

BrazilBrazil• Portugal’s colony of Brazil

became independent without fighting a war.

• Dom Pedro, the son of the King of Portugal, wrote a letter to his dad and told him he was declaring Brazil independent.

• In 1822 Brazil was FREE.• Dom Pedro was a HERO!!!!

Gran ColombiaGran Colombia• Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and

Panama

• When they saw the Americans fight and win independence from the British they thought they could do the same.

• By 1822 Spain was no longer as powerful worldwide as it once was.

SSiimmóón Boln Bolíívarvar• The people of Gran Colombia needed a

leader to guide them in their pursuit of independence.

• was that man!

• From 1822 to 1825 Bolívar

liberated both the countries

Gran Colombia and Peru.Gran Colombia and Peru.

What problems did Latin What problems did Latin America face in the 1800s?America face in the 1800s?

• Poverty – people were extremely poor

• Poor remained landless – they stayed and worked the land but could never make enough $$ to buy their own land

• Border disputes – all these countries had to decide where their borders began and ended. Who owned the land?

• Role of the Catholic church – is the church part of the government or not? What would the role of the Church be?

• Political conflict – Type of government, role of church, etc. Frequent fights over issues like this.

The Cuban Revolution• Problems in Central America

– Main Idea: In Central America, repressive governments, social conflict, and civil wars made progress difficult.

• Most of the wealth and power in Central America and the Caribbean in the 1900s was held by few people.

• Rebels were fighting for changes they thought would better the poor people of Latin American’s lives.

The Cuban RevolutionThe Cuban Revolution• Before Castro

• Cuba gained its independence from Spain in 1898.• In the 1900s Cuba’s wealth was controlled by American companies.

– One of the main companies in Cuba was sugar companies.– The other main company in Cuba was mining companies.

• The dictator of Cuba until 1959 was Fulgencio Battista.• Fidel Castro led the revolution of 1959.

• Castro’s Government• Castro promised _democracy_ but instead set up a _communist_ state.• Cubans who wanted to escape Castro’s rule fled to Florida.• U.S. Aid

– One event that led the U.S. to stop aiding Castro was that he joined forces with the Soviet Union.

– Another event that led the U.S. to stop aiding Castro was that he began taking over U.S. owned businesses and property in Cuba.

Results:Results:• Cuba’s Relationship with the United States

Declined– U.S. Embargo

• An embargo is a ban on trade with another country.

• The U.S. placed an embargo on Cuban goods in 1962.

– As a result of the embargo, poor harvests, and bad government planning Cuba’s economy was poor.

What did Mexico do?What did Mexico do?• In 1910 the peasants of

Mexico had had enough.

• They revolted against President Porfirio Diaz who was basically a dictator of Mexico.

• A Mexican named Medero was thrown in jail by Diaz and he lead an army against Diaz.

• Emiliano Zapata led south Mexicans against Diaz.

• Pancho Villa led troops in the north.

• By 1911 Diaz fled to France.

• Resulted in the constitution of 1917.

• Peasants finally got their own land!

Guerrillas in MexicoGuerrillas in Mexico

Zapatista Army of National Zapatista Army of National LiberationLiberation

• The Zapatistas are an armed revolutionary group based in Chiapas, one of the poorest states in Mexico.

• Chiapas is a land rich with oil, natural gas, and coffee, yet most of the resources go north to fuel other Mexican states.

Zapatista Army of National Zapatista Army of National LiberationLiberation

• They are mostly supported by indigenous Mayas. Non-Spanish speaking farms.

• Most of the land is controlled by wealthy latifundistas and rancheros, who work with the Mexican government for personal gain.

• The population density is also growing.

Zapatista Army of National Zapatista Army of National LiberationLiberation

• They take their name from Emiliano Zapata, a proponent of the 1910 Mexican Revolution.

• Founded in 1983• They went public on January 1, 1994,

the day NAFTA took affect.• The Zapatistas want to control their

area of Mexico and all the resources found there.

“You are in Zapatista rebel territory. Here the people give the orders and the government obeys."

Main Idea:Main Idea:•The poor always want to have The poor always want to have

more money and power.more money and power.

•The rich never want to give up The rich never want to give up their riches and power.their riches and power.

•Due to scarcity countries must Due to scarcity countries must decide how to use their limited decide how to use their limited resources to fill their unlimited resources to fill their unlimited

desires.desires.