Name: _________________________________ Do Now: Latin American Independence Movements Classwork: Imagine you are a Peninsulares, Creole or Native American. In your point of view, compose a short story that illustrates what is going on during the Latin American revolution in your eyes. In order to get a 5 out of 5 you need to: • Identify and describe the social class you are. • Describe three (3) causes of the Latin American Revolution • Explain each of these three (3) causes impacted you and your social class. Causes for Increased Nationalism and Desire for Independence in Colonial Latin America 1) In the Spanish-­‐American social hierarchy, a social class system based on birth, the Creoles come second. At the top of the society were Spaniards born in the Iberian Peninsula (where Spain is located) who have come to America to take up an official position in government or church, or else to make their fortunes; they are known as Peninsulares. It has always been Spanish policy to favor the Peninsulares, in terms of appointments to high and profitable office, above the Creoles -­‐ the term for people of pure European origin born in the American continent. The Creoles resented being discriminated against in this way. If there is to be a nationalist rebellion against Spain, its leaders will come from their class. 2) More than a few people in Spain's colonies were influenced by the Enlightenment and the American and French revolutions. The American Revolution was seen by many in South America as a good example of colonies throwing off European rule and replacing it with a more fair and democratic society. 3) There was a growing dislike of Spain's restrictions over economic matters. There were restrictions on trading with foreigners, restrictions against growing crops that would compete with crops grown in Spain, and restrictions on making goods that would compete with goods made in Spain. Taxes imposed by Spanish authorities were also annoying. The vast Spanish New World Empire produced many goods, including coffee, textiles, wine, minerals and more. But the colonies were only allowed to trade with Spain, and at rates advantageous for Spanish merchants. Many took to selling their goods illegally to British and American merchants. Spain was eventually forced to loosen some trade restrictions, but the move was too little, too late as those who produced these goods demanded a fair price for them. 4) People of Spanish heritage born in Latin America were not participating in government the way that people of British heritage had been in Britain's colonies. Creoles (those born in America claiming pure Spanish blood) were living under the more authoritarian (Government with complete power) tradition of the Spaniards. The Church and its Inquisition were dominated by Spaniards. So too was the military in Latin America. The families of Spain's officials enjoyed their authority and higher status. They looked down on the creoles as well as toward Indians, and the creoles resented it. Many of them had a non-­‐white in their family sometime in the 200 years since the Europeans had arrived in the New World, while people born in Spain prided themselves on their purity. 5) There was a growing sense in the colonies of being different from Spain: these differences were cultural and often took the form of great pride in the region that any particular Creole belonged to. By the end of the eighteenth century, the visiting scientist Alexander Von Humboldt noted that the locals preferred to be called American. 6) Napoleon invaded in 1808 and quickly conquered not only Spain but Portugal as well. He replaced Charles IV with his own brother, Joseph Bonaparte. A Spain ruled by France was an outrage even for New World loyalists: many men and women who would have otherwise supported the royalist side now joined the insurgents. Those Spaniards who resisted Napoleon begged the colonials for help but refused to promise to reduce trade restrictions if they won. The chaos in Spain made the perfect excuse to rebel and yet not commit treason: many said they were loyal to Spain, not Napoleon. In places like Argentina, colonies "sort of" declared independence: they claimed that they would only rule themselves until such a time as Charles IV or his son Ferdinand were put back on the Spanish throne.