This chapter discusses the context and events surrounding independence revolutions in Latin America in the early 19th century. It explores the social hierarchies and groups involved, including peninsulars, creoles, natives, Africans, and slaves. The revolutions began slowly in Mexico and spread to other countries. Creoles united with lower classes against the Spanish by emphasizing native birthplace over European origins. The leaders of independence movements included Simon Bolivar and Jose de San Martin. However, the revolutions did not fundamentally change social hierarchies of patriarchy, classism, and racism.
4. Chapter 3: European ideals fly across the Atlantic France Spain Americas liberalism & sovereignty
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11. Chapter 3: Was Bolívar the Latin American George Washington? Let’s ask George Bush and Hugo Chávez! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B8VpHJvS08&feature=player_embedded&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1
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Notas do Editor
Chasteen notes in the beginning of the chapter that before the end of the 1700s, Spain/Portugal enjoyed almost 300 years of solid colonial rule -- this begs the question: why now? The following slides are dedicated to answering these questions... Talk to students about identifying the most important questions when approaching social science phenomena, especially such as revolutions -- the fact that they all began around the same time after so long presents a puzzle, a paradox. This should lead to questions about why...
How did bad governance and European violence impact those in the Americas? (Answer: Americans feeling less connected to Spanish throne, feeling the pressure of taxation and the effects of sale of political office to incompetent Peninsulares. Violence gave new sense of freedom and independence to Spanish colonies.)
Ideas originating during Enlightenment in France spoke of liberalism (invoked concept of popular sovereignty, also known as the power of the people). After France took over Spain in Napoleonic Wars, Spanish and Americans opposed French control of Spain and Spanish throne. Spanish Americans first discussed sovereignty in the name of King Fernando VII, but soon the notion of sovereignty became inconsistent with foreign control over American colonies. Creoles especially began to cry for independence and popular sovereignty, claiming they no longer should be colonies, but independent republics. Ironically, liberal ideas within Spain are what brought about the downfall of Spanish imperialism.
This pyramid/hierarchy shows the power structures, population size, and interests of the different groups. The first cries for liberty came from creoles because of their resentment of the pensinsulars who received the social status and powerful political roles. Why couldn’t the creoles just revolt by themselves? (Answer: they needed more numbers to fight off the Spanish) The natives, Africans, and mixed races (Mestizos and mulattos) were uninterested in the intra-elite squabbles -- after all, what did they have to gain from exchanging one elite group for another? Slaves: were they considered? Were they ever included by anyone? Preview to next slide -- what would have to happen for the masses to join the creole rebellion?
Revolutionary creoles balancing their desire to defeat the Spanish with their fear of uniting and energizing the lower classes. (Goldy Locks and 3 Bears theory: can’t be too hot or too cold, has to be just right) Hidalgo in Mexico and Tupac Amaru II in Peru scared them away from a strongly native movement. In all cases, the movements that ended up succeeding were from the top down -- creoles finding ways to unite their message with that of the lower classes without overdoing it. The picture is of the Virgin of Guadalupe whose image was carried into battle by Hidalgo’s largely indigenous revolt. Images of Virgin of Guadalupe can still be seen ALL over Latin America. Transition to next slide: How did the creoles eventually unite the messages? How did they use the strength of the lower classes without encouraging them to take over the revolution and push out the creoles with the peninsulars? (Answer: the developed a unifying identity called “nativism” or “Americanos”, which would include creoles and the natives, but not the peninsulars)
No extra explanation on this slide. Next slide will go over the details of how the actual independence fights occurred.
Brazil did not follow the “Latin American” trend for revolution... What accounts for the difference? (Answer: the king was in on it! The son stayed in Brazil as king after King Jão was forced to go back home to Portugal. Brazil became the Brazilian empire.) Perhaps the location of the king within the country made all the difference?
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Women were an integral part of fighting for the revolution, but how were they rewarded? Continued patriarchy. Natives, mestizos were an integral part of fighting for the revolution, but how were they rewarded? Continued classism and racism.
Ask for similarities and differences before and after showing clip of Bush and Chavez.