World Cultures 11

Unit III: Latin America

Name: ______________________________
Date:

LATIN AMERICAN PEOPLES WIN INDEPENDENCE

Directions: After reading the document below, please answer the following questions completely and
thoroughly in complete sentence format.
Background Question:
1. What three factors motivated the people of Latin America to rebel against their European
controllers?
The three factors were the revolutions and ideas that changed peoples minds. People wanted liberty
and equality. Last, European colonial powers were dominating the people which they did not like.

Haitian Independence
1. Who controlled the colony of Haiti and what two leaders where responsible for their
independence?
Europe controlled the colony and the two leaders were Toussaint LOuverture and Jean-Jacques
Dessalines.
2. Why were they able to win their independence so quickly and easily?
Because it was during the French Revolution so they were able to attack while the French Revolution
was being focused on more.
3. How was this movement for independence different from revolutions in the rest of Latin
America? [You will have to answer this question after reading the entire document.]
They did it without fighting.

Viceroyalty of Peru
1. Identify and explain the specific events on the European continent effected the movement for
independence in Peru.
First, King Ferdinand was removed by Spain revolutions. Then Napoleon put his brother as King which
caused more rebellion. People wanted power themselves but could not have that when a king is placed.

2. The movement from independence was spearheaded by what two creoles. Who were they and
explain how they were able to gain it.
The movement was led by Simon Bolivar, a creole, and Jose de san Martin, a liberator. Both gained
independence by creating an army.

3. What name did they give to the independent viceroyality?

Gran Columbia.
Viceroyalty of New Spain
1. How did the movement for independence differ from that of Peru?
Leaders in Peru would get independence while New Spain leaders beat each other for independence.
2. The movement began with the leadership of what two leaders? Explain their rebellion and its
successes/failures.
Miguel Hidalgo and Jose Maria Morelos. Miguel made an army and would win in Mexico City in 1811.
Morelos, would lead a revolution before getting beat by an officer.
3. Ironically, a creole DID eventually was successful in gaining freedom from Spain. Who was he,
and whey did favor independence in 1820 when he did not earlier?
Agustin de Iturbide. He favored it once a group was in control to help Mexico and their independence.

4. What government/title did this liberator give the newly independent viceroyalty?
What happened to his government?
United Provinces of Central America. He was overthrown causing independence. Iturbide was
overthrown and they declared their absolute independence
Brazil
1. Why was this colony governed differently than the Spanish colonies just prior to independence?
Portugal ran the colony until the leader, Napoleon, was defeated.
2. How did the movement for independence differ in this Portuguese colony than those of the
Spanish colonies?
There was no fighting or bloodshed. Citizens would sign a petition to have Dom Pedro in power. He then
would declare independence.