THE INDEPENDENCE REVOLUTIONS
THE INDEPENDENCE IN LATIN AMERICA
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The independence of Latin America was the rebellion of
the inhabitants against Spanish rule and the formation of
nation states. It began with the proclamation of the Sovereign Boards in 1809.
Some of them, especially the first one in Quito, were repressed with fire and blood.
by the Spanish authorities. The process continued until it became a true
war.
CAUSES OF LATIN AMERICA INDEPENDENCE
In the independence of Latin America, many causes
can be distinguished, among them:
✓ Economic. The Bourbon reforms stifled the economy of the colonies by prevent trade and impose excessive taxes.
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✓ Social. There was resentment for the prerogatives of the Spanish. The
disputes between Spaniards and Creoles for managerial positions extended to all areas.
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✓ Ideological. The precursors of independence realized the
differences between the colonies and the metropolis, highlighted the value
own and raised the alternative of the homeland as a separate entity
from Spain.
✓ Influence of the independence of the United States and the French Revolution. Napoleon, to the causes, we must add the
events that precipitated the
independence. Autonomous Juntas were organized in many Spanish cities
who promised to rule until the return of Ferdinand VII to the throne, but
they were dissolved by the French. Only the western part of Andalusia was free.
The Junta of Seville proclaims itself the Supreme Government of all Spain
THE LACK OF A KING, OCCASION OF AMERICAN BOARDS
In proclaiming the Sovereign Boards,
the South American Creoles carried out three theses:
rejection of Napoleon's claims about America, the
loyalty to Fernando VII and,
the illegitimacy of both José Bonaparte and the
authorities, who no longer had any power.
Quito was to be the first in the history of Spanish.
America to proclaim, on August 10, 1809, a
self-government, they would soon proclaim
their meetings, immediately, throughout 1810, Caracas (04/19), Buenos Aires
(05/25), Bogotá (07/20) and Santiago de Chile (08/18).
In Mexico, priest Hidalgo would yield in the town of Dolores (Guanajuato,
08/16), the independence cry had the same ideals: "Long
Long live the Virgin of Guadalupe! Down with the bad government! Long live fernando
VII! "
FROM THE BOARDS TO THE WARS OF INDEPENDENCE
The Spanish authorities repressed the first of the cities to form a
Sovereign Board. The viceroys of Lima and
Bogotá immediately sent troops with the order to besiege Quito and not allow "a
grain of salt "to enter. After the defeat, the armies of Lima and Bogotá occupied
city, and on August 2, 1810, they murdered 300 patriots and
citizens, who shocked all of America.
At first, the Juntas were not independent: they were called interim, depositaries of sovereignty until the legitimate king returned. But the reaction of the Spanish led to the polarization of the Creole positions and elites
multiplied, since 1811, the proclamation, without ambiguity, of
independence The military reaction of the
The colonial authorities was immediate.
They had little success, because
had no trained armies made it a true continental war that lasted
for many years.
HAITI AND SANTO DOMINGO
François Dominique Toussaint-Louverture took over a slave revolution in the
French side of the island of Hispaniola and led it between 1793 and 1802. In 1803, Jean Jacques Dessalines finally defeated the French and, in
1804, declared the independence of Haiti. It was, then, the second
country of America, in this case, led by blacks.
In 1822, Haitian troops subdued a part of Hispaniola Island, which
would regain the independence of Haiti in 1844. But what will be called the
Dominican Republic.
It would not achieve independence from Spain until 1865, after a war that left the country devastated.
MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE
The priest miguel
Hidalgo was placed in front of the Indians and peasants and they were thrown,
as we saw, the "cry of
Independence "in the town of Dolores.
Over three years, he won triumphs with his army and occupied several cities in, but was defeated
and executed by the royalist authorities in 1811. The command was taken by
another priest, José María Morelos, who directed the second stage. He introduced a liberal state and agrarian reform. But he shot him in 1815. Frustrated in their desire for autonomy and free trade, a group of
the Creoles proclaimed independence in 1821.
CENTRAL AMERICA
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INDEPENDENCE OF CUBA
Guatemala with its provinces declared its independence (09-15-1821) and, shortly after, Mexico was annexed to defend itself
best of Spain. A year later, Guatemala and its provinces formed a
State, with the name of United Provinces of
Central America. But nevertheless,
the oligarchies promoted the separation, this led to a civil war (1838-1840), in which
Guatemala lost, England invaded it but failed although it kept the enclave of Belize.
Panama belonged to the Viceroyalty of New Granada and, therefore, became independent along with Colombia. From this separated in 1904, by the direct
US action to control the Panama Canal promoted the formation of a
separate republic.
José Martí organizes the
Cuban Revolutionary Party and looks for the old leaders of the revolution, unifies the different
streams, build a small army,
and disembarks in Cuba. Marti
dies but the revolutionary army continues
fighting. The United States does not want to lose the possibility of
Island of the Antilles and, in 1898, after the explosion of the battleship Maine in the port of Havana, declared war on Spain. The US intervention
precipitated the Spanish defeat and Cuba proclaimed its independence in 1899.
THE CASE OF PUERTO RICO
BRAZIL: MONARCHICAL INDEPENDENCE
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On September 23, 1868, the cry for independence against Spain,
it was produced. The rebellion is crushed in no time. Puerto Rico continues
within the Spanish system until the war between the United States and Spain. After the
defeat, the island of Puerto Rico is administered by the United States
and it is currently a commonwealth of that country. Consequently, it is not
an independent country.
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When Napoleon invaded Portugal, John VI took refuge in Brazil (1807) and later
promoted a reform by declaring Brazil as the territorial base of the
"Empire of Brazil, Portugal and the Algarve". Thus, Rio de Janeiro becomes
the seat of a monarchy, as well as those of Europe, and no longer a
Suburb. In 1821, Juan VI returned to Portugal, leaving his son Pedro de Braganza
as governor of Brazil, but the following year he proclaimed himself emperor of
Brazil. In 1831 he abdicated and was succeeded by his son, Pedro II, who reigned
until 1889 when the first republic was proclaimed.