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A
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 From 1500 to 1800,
Latin America was
colonized by Europe,
especially Spain

European nations used

mercantilism to gain
wealth from their American
colonies

Catholic missionaries from

Spain & France converted
Indians

White Europeans were at the top of

One major impact of society
European colonization was
the unequal social Peninsulares were royal governors
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hierarchy in Latin America sent by the king to enforce
mercantilism & maintain order in
the colony
 White Europeans were at the top of
One major impact of
European colonization was
Title society
the unequal social Spanish colonists born in America
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hierarchy in Latin America were called creoles; They had land
& wealth
but had no political power

The lack of European women in Mestizos were

America led to intermarriage & a the offspring of Europeans
large mixed-race population & Indians
that made up the next level of the
social hierarchy Mulattos were
the offspring of Europeans
& Africans
 Indians & African slaves
made up the bottom of the
social hierarchy

Indians & slaves were used

as workers for creoles
plantations

From 1800 to 1830, Latin American colonies began declaring

independence from European nations & establishing
democracies throughout the Americas
 By the late 1700s,
Latin Americans were
inspired to gain
independence
because of the
success of the
American & French
Revolutions

The ideas of the

Enlightenment inspired
independence
especially among the
well-educated creole
class

Throughout Latin America,

new democratic republics
were created

But, Latin Americans did

not have a history of
self-government & many
of the new gov’ts were
unstable

In many nations, military

dictators called caudillos
seized power & made few
reforms for citizens

Latin America became

dependent on the USA
 Haitian Revolution
➔ Slaves given freedom during French
Revolution – freedom taken away
under Napoleon
➔ Inspired by “Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite”
➔ Led by Toussaint L’overture (former
slave)
➔ 1st successful slave revolt
➔ 1st Western hemisphere country led by
people of color

Latin American Revolutions

➔ Creoles wanted more rights and fought
Peninsulares/Spanish troops
➔ Simon Bolivar – liberated Northern
part of South America:
◆ Venezuela
◆ Gran Columbia
◆ Peru
➔ Jose San Martin – liberated southern
part of South America:
◆ Argentina
◆ Chile
◆ Peru
 Mexican Wars for Independence
➔ Mexican peasants vs. rich land
holders
➔ First led by Father Miguel Hidalgo

➔ The Latin American Revolutions

were inspired by the American and
French Revolutions
➔ Results of Latin American
Revolutions
◆ Weak/unstable governments
◆ Caudillos/Military dictators took
power (coup d’etats)
◆ US became more involved in
Latin American politics