Name:_______________________________________________ Date:________________________
Independence and Instability
Directions: Read the following passage, and then, using the Independence Movements in Latin America
handout as well as other notes and class handouts from the unit, complete the crossword puzzle at the back of
this sheet.
The French Revolution (1789) and subsequent Napoleonic wars deeply influenced rebel sentiments in the region.
In a unique historic turn a Haitian slave revolt that began in 1791 grew into a revolution that freed Haiti from
France in 1804. Elsewhere the strongest push toward self-rule occurred after Napoleon's armies invaded Portugal
(1807) and Spain (1808), and the Portuguese royal family fled to Brazil.
In South America the rebel general Simón Bolívar became known as the father of South American independence.
Among his allies were José de San Martín (in Argentina), José Antonio Páez (in Venezuela), and Bernardo
O'Higgins (in Chile). Mexico's struggle was begun by two priests (Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla and José María
Morelos, who were executed) and was completed by onetime loyalist Agustín de Iturbide, who made himself
Mexico's emperor. Unlike its neighbors, Brazil achieved independence with little bloodshed. In 1822, after the
Portuguese king returned home, his son Pedro declared independence from Portugal.
Despite the grand intentions proclaimed in Latin America's new constitutions, leaders were generally more
interested in economic boons and personal power than in democracy. But dictators and civilian presidents alike
favored growth through exports such as Jamaican and Haitian sugar, Andean minerals, and beef cattle from
Argentina and Uruguay.
Three major wars altered boundaries in the 1800s. The U.S. creed of Manifest Destiny and Texans' anger over
Mexico's plan to end slavery led to the Mexican War (1846–48), after which Mexico lost half its territory. In the
disastrous War of the Triple Alliance (1864/65–70), Paraguay lost 15 to 20 percent of its people defending against
Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay. A dispute over nitrate exports ignited the War of the Pacific (1879–83), in which
Chile defeated Peru and Bolivia.
Although the trans-Atlantic slave trade diminished in the 1800s, slavery was not outlawed until 1848 on French
islands and not until 1873 in Puerto Rico, 1886 in Cuba, and 1888 in Brazil. Plantation owners and large
companies were unwilling to pay high wages to freed slaves and other workers, so they trapped some in debt
peonage and imported indentured laborers (as quasi-slaves) from South Asia, China, and Indonesia.
Colonial Independence Movements Crossword
Across
2. This was a person of mixed European and Indian descent. (key term)
3. This is the country that had control of Haiti until 1804.
5. This country had control of Brazil until 1822.
7. The first and only successful slave revolt in history took place in this country.
8. This person is known as the father of the South American independence movements. (2 words)
9. This was the person who conquered the Incas.
10. This country ruled Mexico until 1822.
12. This was an official sent from Spain to rule the colonies. (key term)
13. This was the most powerful institution during the days of colonial rule in Latin America. (3 words)
Down
1. This was the first European to land in Haiti. (He also sailed the ocean blue in 1492).
2. This was the second priest who was executed leading up to Mexico's independence.
4. This was the person who conquered the Aztecs.
6. This was the emperor of France during the time of the Haitian independence movement.
11. This is the last name of the leader of the revolt for Haitian independence.
14. This was an American-born descendant of Spanish settlers. (key term)