Name: _______Tracy Yang_______________

Period: ___3rd_____

Revolutions in Latin America

General Instructions: Using the internet, it will be your task to explore the revolutions that sought
Independence for countries in Latin American throughout the 19th century. You will be given a series of
questions to answer and specific places in which to locate the information. The links will guide you to
websites or documents in which you will answer the questions. Once all the questions are completed,
you will choose a processing activity to complete.

I.

The Haitian Revolution

The Island of Saint Domingue had long been a prize in the French empire, and by 1789 it produced
nearly 40% of the world's sugar. The island was home to roughly 500,000 enslaved African who
outnumbered white plantation owners and free blacks 10-1. In order to maintain control, white
plantation owners used brutal tactics to scare their slaves.
When in 1789 Revolution broke out in France, revolutionary forces began to emerge amongst whites,
free blacks and different groups within the slave populations. Using the ideas of "The Declaration of the
Rights of Man" and other important revolutionary doctrine, would-be revolutionaries on Saint
Domingue petitioned the National assembly for autonomy. In response, the National assembly granted
the colony power over local government, but the act's vague language led to different interpretations
on the island and what had been an independence movement broke into war between white planters
and free blacks. The chaos and inspiring events of the French Revolution led to an all out slave revolt.
Slave Revolt that began in 1791 was led by a man named Toussaint L'Ouverture and would set the
colony and its slave population on the road to independence and FREEDOM!

Go to http://www.historywiz.com/toussaint.htm and read about the Haitian Revolution and answer

questions 1-3 in complete sentences.
1. Who was Toussaint LOuverture?
He was the leader of the Haitian Revolution.
2. What did he accomplish?
He accomplished by playing off the French against the British and Spanish to ensure the
countries freedoms.
3. How was he betrayed and what happened to him?

His betrayal triggered mass slave revolts in Saint Dominique, and Toussaint became the leader
of the slave rebellion.

Go to http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field%28DOCID+ht0019%29 and read about the

Haitian Revolution and answer questions 4-5 in complete sentences.
4. Haiti became the worlds first _free black republic______________.
5. What were some problems the nation faced after gaining its independence?
One of the problems were that Christophe lost position of wealth and importance she held before
independence.

II.

Latin American Revolutions

As in France, the Latin American revolutions were caused by several factors. Also, as in France, the
disparity between the small number of people with power and wealth and the poverty stricken masses

without political influence provided a situation ripe for revolution. Using the Following ink, identify the
social issues that existed in Latin America that led to Revolution.
Go to
http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?groupid=868&HistoryID=aa87&gtrack=pth
c#869
Read the page and answer questions 6-8 below in complete sentences.
6. Explain the social hierarchy in Latin America before Revolution. Include and describe each of the
groups and their respective powers or roles.
Isolated within the Spanish and Portuguese empires, the upheavals in France in 1789. Spaniards: take up
an official position in government or church. Mestizo: people of mixed European and American-Indian
ancestry
7. How could this system alone lead to Revolution?
By getting a lot of people and working together to lead the revolution and also try hard.
8. What Actions taken by Napoleon inflamed this situation and why?
He invades Spain, secures the abdication of the Spanish king Ferdinand VII, and places on the throne his
own brother Joseph Bonaparte.
Go to
http://www.eastchester.k12.ny.us/schools/hs/teachers/reagan/LatinAmericanIndependenceMovement
s.htm
Read the page and answer the question below in complete sentences.
9. Identify 4 additional causes of the Latin American Revolutions.
Napoleon's conquests, Americas independence, the French Revolution and the Enlightenment.
The vast differences between social classes, the introduction of enlightenment ideas, and the inspiration
of the French Revolution set the stage for revolution in Latin America, but the forces in motion needed
one more event to trigger their move for Independence.
Go to http://www.trincoll.edu/classes/hist300/group3/latin.htm and answer:
10. Describe how Napoleon's invasion and conquest of Spain in the Peninsular War of 1808 triggered the
Revolutions in Latin America. (3rd Paragraph)
This invasion scattered the Iberian rulers, and left the government in disarray.

Liberators in South America

Once revolution had begun in South America in countries such as Venezuela and Argentina, the people's
seeking independence needed their best leaders and a unified effort to defeat the much more powerful
Spanish and loyalist Armies. Luckily Venezuela, which declared independence in 1811, was home to
Simon Bolivar, a brilliant military mind and experienced statesman who had spent time in Europe, and
had witnessed firsthand the success of democratic principles in the United States on a trip in 1807. To
the South, Jose de San Martin led the forces of Argentina when it declared Independence in 1816.
Martin's more reserved demeanor made him a hero to his troops, and his youth in Europe did not
dampen his loyalties to Argentine Independence. To better understand the role these men played in
their nation's quest for independence use the following resources.

Go to http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=11917&pt=Simon%20Bolivar and
answer the following questions:
11. Pick 2 characteristics or experiences of Simon Bolivar that made him a good leader and list them.
Simon Bolivar was a brilliant tactician who always did the unexpected and Simon Bolivar had dictatorial
tendencies.
12. Why is Simon Bolivar called the George Washington of South America?
Because he helped many countries gain independence from Spanish rule.
Go to http://www.unique-southamerica-travel-experience.com/simon-bolivar.html and answer the
following question.
13. How did Simon Bolivar and Jose San Martin Work together to achieve Independence in South
America?
Whichever the case, both San Martin and Simon Bolivar played a key role I liberating Latin America from
the Spanish Crown.
Revolutions throughout Latin America

Throughout Central America and in Portugal's colony of Brazil, Independence movements sprang up in
reaction to the anger of underprivileged and underrepresented classes inspired by the model of the
French Revolution and enlightenment ideals. As in South America, bold leaders and commitment from
the people saw an end to colonial rule. Whereas clear military struggle had won victories for the
peoples of South America, royal intrigue and infighting complicated the road to independence for
Mexico and Brazil. Choose one of the following struggles for independence.

Go to http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/mexican-war-of-independence-begins and answer

the question.
14. Mexican war of Independence 1810 - List and briefly describe the major causes, figures, events, and
results.
The town of Dolores, called for the end of 300 years of Spanish rule in Mexico, redistribution of land,
and racial equality.
Go to http://international.loc.gov/intldl/brhtml/br-1/br-1-4.html#track1 and answer the question.
15. Brazil's rode to Independence - Outline the peculiar series of events that led to Brazil's independence
The former colony became the seat of the United Kingdom of Portugal and Algarves, with the offices of
public administration located in Rio de Janeiro.
Effects of the Revolutions
Despite the hope brought by Independence and the best efforts and example of some of the leaders of
the new nations, the goals of the revolutions of equality and unity largely went unfulfilled. The fierce
sense of Independence that had led to victory over colonial overlords, would cause divisions between
the new nations and destroy Simon Bolivar's dreams of a Gran Columbia in South America. Soon after
Independence, the unworldly regions of government were grabbed by men who did not share the sense
of equality that had ignited the revolutions.
Five Consequences of Independence:
Land sales, Trades, Taxations without a representation, Man rights, War.

Go to:
http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?groupid=856&HistoryID=aa87&gtrack=pth
c
And answer the following question:
16. Who were the caudillos and what type of government did the set up for the new countries of Latin
America?

Strong men of this kind, frequently emerging from the army, are such a characteristic part of the
region's political life that Latin America has its own word for them. They are caudllos, and the very
specific loyalty which they inspire in their followers is the cult of personalismo.

Go to: http://www.thenagain.info/webchron/usa/mondoc.html and answer the following question:

17. What was the Monroe Doctrine and how it show the U.S. "controlling" Latin America? (First
Paragraph)
It was a policy initiated by President James Monroe which aimed to limit European expansion into the
Western Hemisphere. Monroe proclaimed, "The American continents, by the free and independent
condition which they have assumed and maintain, are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for
future colonization by any European powers."
Go to
http://occawlonline.pearsoned.com/bookbind/pubbooks/stearns_awl/chapter31/objectives/deluxecontent.html and answer the following question:
18. What happened to the dream of Political unity? (New Nations Confront Old and New Problems Political Fragmentation) Political Disunity
The link didnt work
Two items that do not require an answer but are listed here because they are part of the 5
consequences.
19. Land sales - After independence was achieved governments sold off land to raise money. The only
people able to buy the land were the creoles or the upper classes that now existed because most of the
peninsulas were gone. This meant that most of the land was once again owned by a small, elite section
of the population.
20. Trade - After Independence, the cash crop economy that had existed continued, but now trade was
not restricted to a mother country, and Spain's former colonies opened trade with Britain and the
United States. To build up their governments, caudillos borrowed money from the U.S. and Britain to set
up industries. When the countries were not able to pay back their loans, the lender countries moved in
and took over industries in Latin America.