Latin American revolutions
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{{Merge|Hispanic American wars of independence|date=April 2008}}
[[Image:Non-Native American Nations Control over South America 1700 and on.gif|thumb|300px|Retreat of European colonialism and change of political borders in South America, 1700-present]]
The term '''Latin American revolutions''' refers to the various [[revolution]]s that took place during the early 19th century that resulted in the creation of a number of independent countries in the [[Latin America]]n region. This is considered to be one of the most influential series of events in the [[history]] of the Western Hemisphere.
==Leaders of Latin American revolutions==
{{see|Libertadores}}
*[[José de San Martín]] (Argentina, Chile, Peru)
*[[Miguel Hidalgo|Miguel de Hidalgo]] (Mexico)
*[[Francisco de Paula Santander]] (Colombia)
*[[Simón Bolívar]] (Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Panama and Bolivia)
*[[Francisco de Miranda]] (Venezuela)
*[[Toussaint L'Ouverture]] (Haiti)
*[[Jean-Jacques Dessalines]] (Haiti)
*[[Vicente Guerrero]] (Mexico)
*[[José María Morelos]] (Mexico)
*[[Bernardo O'Higgins]] (Chile)
*[[Antonio José de Sucre]] (Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia)
==Countries in which major revolutions took place==
:''Dates correspond to either the time period of fighting or when the respective country declared independence''
*[[Haiti]] (1791-1804)
*[[Ecuador]] (1809-1822)
*[[Bolivia]] (1809-25)
*[[Argentina]] (1810-16)
*[[Chile]] (1810-18)
*[[Colombia]] (1810-19)
*[[Mexico]] (1810-21)
*[[Paraguay]] (1811)
*[[Venezuela]] (1811-22)
*[[Peru]] (1821)
*[[Brazil]] (1822)
==Conditions for revolution==
===American Revolution===
{{main|American Revolution}}
The rebellion by the British colonies in North America from Great Britain was spurred by a number of taxes and Acts that the colonists had no say over. This infuriated colonists, and started the American Revolution. Colonists in [[North America]] were able to start a government of their own because of [[Age of Enlightenment|Enlightenment]] thinking, and because they were governing themselves on the state level for many years before the rebellion.
===French Revolution===
{{main|French Revolution}}
The '''French Revolution''' (1789–1799) was a period of political and social upheaval in the [[political history]] of [[France]] and [[Europe]] as a whole, during which the French governmental structure, previously an [[absolute monarchy]] with [[feudalism|feudal privileges]] for the [[aristocracy]] and [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic]] [[clergy]], underwent radical change to forms based on [[Age of Enlightenment|Enlightenment]] principles of [[democracy]], [[citizenship]], and [[inalienable rights]]. These changes were accompanied by violent turmoil, including executions and repression during the [[Reign of Terror]], and [[French Revolutionary Wars|warfare involving every other major European power]].
===Napoleonic Wars===
{{main|Napoleonic Wars}}
This was a series of wars fought between [[First French Empire|France]] (led by [[Napoleon I of France|Napoleon Bonaparte]]) and alliances involving [[United Kingdom|Britain]], [[Kingdom of Prussia|Prussia]], [[Kingdom of Spain|Spain]], [[Russian Empire|Russia]] and [[Austrian Empire|Austria]] at different times, from 1799 to 1815.
===Other factors===
Other factors included [[European Enlightenment]] thinking. The Enlightenment spurred the desire for social and economic reform to spread throughout Latin America. Ideas about free trade and physiocrat doctrine were raised by the Enlightenment.
==The revolutions==
[[Miguel Hidalgo]] led the successful independence movement of Mexico. [[Simón Bolívar]] helped in a number of revolutions in northern [[South America]]. A wealthy [[Creole peoples|Creole]] officer, Bolívar impassioned his fellow South Americans to support him in fighting against the Spanish. Between 1817 and 1822, he won a series of victories in [[History of Venezuela|Venezuela]], [[History of Colombia|Colombia]], [[History of Ecuador|Ecuador]], [[History of Peru|Peru]], and [[History of Bolivia|Bolivia]]. The first uprising against Spanish rule took place in 1809, but only in 1822 did Ecuador fully gain independence and became part of the Federation of Gran Colombia, from which it withdrew in 1830. Luz de America was the nickname given to Ecuador's capital Quito which saw the first revolt against Spanish occupation. The nickname served the urge for the call of independence that was heard around the continent, and inspired the eventual domino collapse of the crown throughout Latin America. The first 3 countries were united in a new nation called [[Gran Colombia]], which broke up in 1830 due to political differences and regional interests. Bolívar rejected all attempts to crown him king of the newly independent areas and worked until his death in 1830 for the cause of independence and republican government. In the [[Southern Cone]] of the continent, the fight for independence was led by the [[Argentine]] General [[José de San Martín]], who campaigned in [[History of Argentina|Argentina]], [[History of Chile|Chile]], and declared [[History of Peru|Peruvian]] independence.
==World Reaction==
{{Expand-section|date=June 2008}}
===France===
===Portugal===
===United States===
==Acceptance or rejection of these new nations==
===Europe===
During the 1800s, Latin American countries were faced by many challenges in developing their economy. Though they were politically independent from countries such as [[Spain]] and [[Portugal]], many countries remained economically dependent on [[Europe]]. Latin American countries exported sugar, beef, copper and coffee to Europe in exchange for manufactured goods.
===United States and Great Britain===
As a result of these successful revolts, United States President [[James Monroe]] asked Secretary of State [[John Quincy Adams]] to draft the [[Monroe Doctrine]]" It stated that the [[United States]] would not tolerate any European interference in the [[Western Hemisphere]]. This measure was taken in order to safeguard the newfound liberties revolutionaries such as Bolivar and Hidalgo fought for. Also, it was taken as a precautionary measure against the vast naval might of the United States' European contemporaries.
[[Great Britain's]] trade with [[Latin America]] had greatly expanded by this time so they supported the revolutionaries against the Spanish, who had in the past always attempted to obstruct British trade. British diplomatic pressure was sufficient to prevent Spain from attempting to seriously reassert its control over their lost colonies during the early 1820s.
===Within Latin America===
[[Simón Bolívar]] attempted to create a [[Pan-Americanism|Pan-American]] government in [[Greater Colombia|Gran Colombia]]. Geographical barriers made this impossible. Latin America never did create a unified government because it had too many military rulers, and few civilian rulers{{Fact|date=May 2007}}. Because every ruler who came to power was from the military, [[Caudillo]]s, there were countless revolutions, which never allowed Latin America to become united{{Fact|date=May 2007}}. Added that Latin America is a land of various and very diverse cultures that do not identify many similiarties or have a sense of unity with one another.
==Resulting changes in international policies==
===Increased interest in Africa===
===Growing tensions in Europe===
===Growth of U.S. political power===
===Organization of American States===
{{main|Organization of American States}}
The notion of closer hemispheric union in the American continent was first put forward by the Liberator [[Simón Bolívar]] who, at the 1826 [[Congress of Panama]], proposed creating a league of American republics, with a common military, a mutual defense pact, and a supranational parliamentary assembly. This meeting was attended by representatives of [[Great Colombia|Gran Colombia]] (comprising the modern-day nations of Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuelathe Commercial Bureau of the American Republics (renamed the "International Commercial Bureau" at the Second International Conference in 1901–02). These two bodies, in existence as of [[14 April]] [[1890]], represent the point of inception to which today's OAS and its General Secretariat trace their origins.
==References==
{{Unreferenced|date=May 2007}}
[[Category:19th century revolutions]]
[[Category:Latin America]]
[[Category:Spanish colonization of the Americas]]