Independent Latin America

Latin American independence started to occur in the late 18th century and involved what we now call today Mexico, Central America and South America. The wars for Latin American independence were fought between 1810-1830 by people who were colonized by Spain and Portugal. These wars were fought by juntas ( armies) that were made up by Mestizos (part Indian part White), Criollos ( people who claimed to have pure Spanish blood but were born in America) and others groups. The cry for independence started when bitterness and anger spread because of limitations imposed by the Spanish government. Many of these restrictions concerned the economy: people were banned from growing crops and making goods that might compete with those grown or made in Spain, they could not trade with foreigners and the taxes were unreasonable. People wanted their rights and were willing to fight for them!
Numerous people were associated with the movement for independence in Latin America, but there were two that played significant roles. Miguel Hidalgo sought liberty for Mexico while Simón Bolívar helped lead the fight for Venezuela, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, Panama and Bolivia.
Miguel Hidalgo was the main leader in Mexico’s wars of independence. He was a criollo and a priest. Unlike many others around him Hidalgo did not agree with or believe discriminating thoughts related to race. He advocated for the welfare of Indians and Mestizos which included trying to return the land that had been stolen from the Indians. His work culminated in creating a plot for an uprising on December 8, 1810. In September, Hidalgo was warned that Spanish authorities had heard about his plans and were sending a force against him. When he heard this news he rang his church bell calling the Indians and Mestizos to action.
Hildalgo and his followers took farm tools as weapons and set off to the town of San Miguel, 30 miles away. When they arrived the militia of San Miguel joined his forces. Within a week they reached Guanajuato with an army which had grown to around 50,000 people. There they met resistance and 2,000 of Hidalgo’s men were killed. Alarmed, the rest of the army tried killing all opponents even if they surrendered. After many days of this warfare in various other towns, the soldiers became tired and were losing their weapons. Hidalgo led his force to Guadalajara, to rest. While the majority of his army took a break, he sent another priest, José María Morelos with 25 men to capture Acapulco. After a few more battles, Hidalgo and his army fled to the Sierra Maestra mountains. The enemy continued capturing town after town and then came for Hidalgo. He was captured, tried by the Inquisition, defrocked ( no longer allowed to be a priest), and executed by a firing squad on July 31,1811.
Simón Bolívar was born in Venezuela. He too, like Hidalgo was a criollo but also had Indian and African blood. At 27 Bolívar was supporting the pro-independence junta. The junta sent him to Europe for international support; he returned in 1811 unsuccessful but with a man named Franscisco de Miranda. Miranda declared Venezuela and New Grenada (Columbia) to be republics and helped lift the restrictions on trading and taxes. He and the junta also challenged the practice of slavery. Bolívar joined a group of patriots, captured Caracas ( Venezuela) and set up an independent government. The Spaniards then forced him to leave and he went from Columbia to Jamaica to Haiti. In 1816 Bolívar returned to Venezuela and defeated the Spaniards after many battles. He led the congress that organized the Republic of Gran Columbia and Venezuela in1816. A few years later Panama, Ecuador, and Peru joined the republic. In 1827 he accepted the invitation from congress in Bogotá ( a city in Columbia) to become president of the Republic of Columbia. Gran Columbia split into three different states in 1830, the same year Simón Bolívar died.
The independence of Latin America was accomplished by ordinary farmers, priests and townspeople. Through their drive, determination and the support of strong leaders they were able to rock the colonizers.

My Resources:

http://www.fsmitha.com/h3/h39-la.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_American_of_Independence