Why Latin Americans fought for
independence
Unfair treatment
• The people in the colonies were treated
unfairly.
• Most had to pay high taxes and few had any
voice in the government.
Weakened Spain and Portugal
• Spain and Portugal were weakened because of
years of fighting in Europe against the French
leader Napoleon.
Influence of other revolutions
• The American and French Revolutions spread
ideas of freedom in Latin America, helping to
justify revolution against unfair government.
Monroe Doctrine
• In 1823 the U.S. issued the Monroe Doctrine,
prohibiting further European colonization in
Latin America.
• This helped protect nations seeking their
independence.