Name _____________________________ Class _________________ Date __________________
Reforms, Revolutions, and War
Section 3
MAIN IDEA
Revolutionary ideas took hold in Latin America as colonies fought for
independence from Europe.
Key Terms and People
Toussaint L’Ouverture a former enslaved African who led the Haitian independence
movement against the French in Saint Domingue
creoles people of European descent who were born in the colonies
peninsulares colonists born in Spain
Miguel Hidalgo creole priest who was the first to call for Mexican independence
José María Morelos creole priest who led the revolutionary movement in Mexico
Simón Bolívar revolutionary leader known as the Liberator because of his key role in
liberating Spain’s colonies in South America
José de San Martín revolutionary leader who fought for independence from Spain in
Argentina, Chile, and Peru
Pedro I prince from Portugal who declared Brazil independent then became its emperor
Taking Notes
As you read, use a graphic organizer like the one below to record details
about independence movements in Latin America in the 1800s.
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Reforms, Revolutions, and War
Section 3
Section Summary
EARLY STRUGGLES IN LATIN AMERICA
Tensions between ethnic and social groups and
colonial reforms led Europe’s Latin American
colonials to demand greater freedom. Born into
slavery, Toussaint L’Ouverture (TOO-san loo-vehrTOOR) became a military leader in Saint Domingue,
the western half of the Caribbean island of Hispaniola,
a French colony. He led a bloody revolt against
French settlers there, making him a hero to many.
Worried that L’Ouverture had too much power,
Napoleon sent a French general to take control of the
island. After months of struggle, L’Ouverture agreed
to an armistice, which France broke when troops
captured him and sent to prison, where he died. The
island continued to fight for independence. In 1804,
the revolutionaries of Saint Domingue declared their
independence from France and named their new
nation Haiti.
While Saint Domingue sought freedom from
France, colonists in Mexico and South America
sought independence from Spain and Portugal.
Spanish colonies had grown wealthy. Their people
had access to education and to new ideas like
Enlightenment philosophy and information about
revolutions in France and the United States.
Meanwhile, tensions were growing between two
groups in Latin America. Creoles (KREE-ohlz) were
people of European descent who were born in the
colonies. They often clashed with peninsulares (pehneen-soo-LAHR-ayz), colonists who were born in
Spain. A similar distinction was made between
colonists born in Brazil and those who came from
Portugal. Only peninsulares were allowed to hold the
best government and church positions. Creoles
resented this system and the faraway rulers who
maintained it. In 1807, when Napoleon invaded Spain
and Portugal, creole revolutionaries decided to take
advantage of this time of crisis in Europe to fight for
their own independence.
What nation did Saint
Domingue become?
_______________________
Underline the sentence that
best explains why creoles
resented peninsulares.
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Reforms, Revolutions, and War
Section 3
INDEPENDENCE IN MEXICO
In 1810, a creole priest named Father Miguel Hidalgo
called for peasants to revolt against the peninsulares.
It was the first call for Mexican independence.
Hidalgo was captured and executed by Spanish
authorities, but the fight for Mexican independence
had just begun. Another creole priest, José María
Morelos took Hidalgo’s place. He organized a
Mexican congress and led the troops that took control
of parts of Mexico. He too was captured and executed.
A creole military officer named Agustín de Iturbide
(ah-goos-TEEN day ee-toor-BEE-day) had remained
loyal to Spain. In 1820 Spanish authorities asked
Iturbide to lead a battle against the revolutionaries.
When another liberal revolution in Spain threatened to
take some of his power, Iturbide switched sides and
fought with the revolutionaries. Mexico declared its
independence in 1821. Iturbide was named Emperor
Agustín I of Mexico.
REVOLUTIONARY LEADERS IN SOUTH
AMERICA
In northern South America, Simón Bolívar (seeMOHN boh-LEE-vahr) led military campaigns that
gained independence for Spain’s colonies. Bolívar’s
wanted to turn the former colonies into the Federation
of the Andes. Instead, Venezuela, Colombia, Panama,
and Ecuador became the state of Gran Colombia.
Other leaders set up separate countries in Peru,
Bolivia, and elsewhere.
While Bolívar was fighting in the north, José de
San Martín led independence movements in parts of
present-day Argentina, Chile, and Peru. After helping
to liberate Argentina and Chile, he met Bolívar in
Gran Colombia, resigned, and returned to Europe.
Brazil’s path to independence was very smooth, by
comparison. After Napoleon invaded Portugal, the
Portuguese King John VI and his family fled to Brazil.
Rio de Janeiro became capital of the Portuguese
empire. Brazil was able to trade directly with the rest
of the world. When John VI returned to Portugal, his
son Pedro ruled Brazil. At the Brazilian colonists’
request, Prince Pedro declared Brazil independent in
1822. He became Emperor Pedro I.
In what year did Mexico
declare its independence
from Spain?
_______________________
How did Brazil gain its
independence from
Portugal?
_______________________
_______________________
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