Name: _________________________________
Period: _________
Date: __________
43
DO NOW: Draw a picture and write a brief caption about one of
the following events....how it would play out or look like.
(1) a sports team that has no
coach
(2) a school with no Principal
(3) a band without a
conductor
(4) a ship without a captain
(5) a class with no teacher
What’s the Point? - In the Square, right down the main movements & their associated
leaders of the Latin American Revolution. THEN, in the circle, write down the “point” or
“main idea” of why these leaders were important to the Latin American Revolutions unit.
Leaders of Latin America
Country 1: Venezuela
A man by the name of Simon Bolivar was a creole in South America during
the early 1800s. He and others we unhappy with the Spanish occupation
and class system which prompted calls for liberation.
Bolivar lead a rebellion in 1810 and Venezuela declared it’s independence
in 1811.
The new government did not last long, and many attempts were made by
conservatives to stop the revolutionaries. Bolivar was even exiled to Haiti
on two occasions.
“The first duty of a government is to give education to the people”
“If Nature is opposed to us, we will fight her and make her obey us.”
“The first duty of a government is to give education to the people”
Country 2: Colombia, Ecuador, and Bolivia
Simon Bolivar thus began to contemplate
how to achieve his goal of liberating
Venezuela, so he came up with an
attack plan that required him to
attack the nearby country of
Colombia. Bolivar was able to
solidify Colombian independence,
although the country already had
declared it in 1810.
This campaign also lead to the
independence of Ecuador (1822) and
Bolivia (1825).
As more lands were freed, Bolivar dreamed of a “Gran Colombia.”
Sadly, it was not realized because Colombia, Venezuela, Panama and
Ecuador all wanted to be their own nations. As time went on, the
colonial leaders in Europe were mostly replaced by dictators in latin
America.
Country 3: Argentina & Chile
Jose de San Martin was another creole born
leader of independence movements in Latin
America. San Martin was born in Argentina, but
trained how to be a soldier in Spain.
San Martin felt at this time that Argentina would
do better as an independent nation, so in 1816
San Martin was able to help make that a reality
by leading forces across the Andes mountains
and storming Argentina.
By 1821, San Martin was also a major player in
the rebellions that occurred in Peru. By 1822,
San Martin decided to turn his forces over to Simon Bolivar.
“I have witnessed the declaration of
independence of the States of Chile and Peru.
My promises to the people for whom I have
waged war have been fulfilled — to
accomplish their independence and leave the
choice of their rulers to their own will.”
- San Martin
Another revolutionary who helped San
Martin was Bernardo O’Higgins. O’Higgins
would free Chile (1810).
He created a new
government in Chile
as a republic.
O’Higgins became
its leader.
Over time though, he
lost much of his
control over the new
country.
Country 4: Brazil
The liberation of Brazil dates back to Portugal and its fight back in
Europe. Due to Napoleon’s invasions in Europe at this time, the
countries were in turmoil. Many, such as Portugal, lost control of their
colonies.
When Napoleon was defeated in 1815, Portugal tried to re-establish
control over Brazil. The creoles there signed a deal with Portugal’s
king to have independence, so long as the prince of
Portugal would rule the country.
So the Portuguese son, Dom Pedro I, was
placed in charge of the area. In 1822,
Pedro declared himself Emperor and in
charge of the country.
Brazil would remain a colony of spain for
years, and only in the late 1800s did
Brazilians step forward to correct this. In 1889,
Brazil finally became an independent and free country.
Name: ____________________ Period: ________
Question: Why would Simon Bolivar earn the nickname,
“THE LIBERATOR”? Explain how this relates to what we
discussed today.