The colonization of Latin America by European countries brought chaos to the country. The settlers slaughtered millions of slaves, both indigenous Indians and African slaves. Colonization did, however, have another effect; because the settlers used a centralized government to control their territory, they inadvertently united the people in the land which who previously part of autonomous tribes. This may have helped advance civilization in Latin America, but it was not optimal for continued European rule. The indigenous people along with the oppressed mestizo class, which dominated the territory, soon realized that they did not want to live under foreign rule. With inspiration from revolutions in North America and Europe and momentum from early
…show more content…
Throughout most other countries independence came from the top down. Since, for the most part, the upper class would see the most change once they broke away from Spain, the lower classes were not the main advocates for a revolution. In Mexico the revolutions were led by priests, first by Miguel Hidalgo and later by Jose Maria Morelos. The first peasant revolt, supported by both mestizos and creoles, failed. Fueled by father Hidalgo’s personal story of oppression by the Spaniards and a strong sense of nationalism, Mexican peasants marched alongside Hidalgo to wage war against Spain. Hidalgo’s militia was able to win a few sloppy battles, but lack of military training made this success short lived and the militia was soon defeated despite their greater numbers. After Hidalgo’s execution his pupil Morelos took over the revolution, but also failed to declare independence. It wasn 't until Agustín de Iturbide that Mexico was finally able to declare independence from Spain. Unlike other South American countries Mexico’s fight for independence was haphazard and lacked a clear hero even though both Hidalgo and Morelos were significant symbols of the revolution in Mexico. Mexico had a bloody revolution, but unlike other countries the main revolutionary force was the lower class. Brazil, however, had a unique process to acquire …show more content…
In the early 19th century, when the momentum of the revolution was driving most of Latin America to fight for independence, the wave skipped over Central America. In this area, like most of Latin America, independence was a debate amongst the elite (creoles). It was in the creoles best interest, at the time, to stay under Spanish rule since they did not believe they could control the lower classes on their own. It also did not help that the Spanish military was strong in the region; a revolt would have been more difficult for Central America. Liberals did, however, declare independence later on and a struggle for power created turmoil in the region for a
Throughout most other countries independence came from the top down. Since, for the most part, the upper class would see the most change once they broke away from Spain, the lower classes were not the main advocates for a revolution. In Mexico the revolutions were led by priests, first by Miguel Hidalgo and later by Jose Maria Morelos. The first peasant revolt, supported by both mestizos and creoles, failed. Fueled by father Hidalgo’s personal story of oppression by the Spaniards and a strong sense of nationalism, Mexican peasants marched alongside Hidalgo to wage war against Spain. Hidalgo’s militia was able to win a few sloppy battles, but lack of military training made this success short lived and the militia was soon defeated despite their greater numbers. After Hidalgo’s execution his pupil Morelos took over the revolution, but also failed to declare independence. It wasn 't until Agustín de Iturbide that Mexico was finally able to declare independence from Spain. Unlike other South American countries Mexico’s fight for independence was haphazard and lacked a clear hero even though both Hidalgo and Morelos were significant symbols of the revolution in Mexico. Mexico had a bloody revolution, but unlike other countries the main revolutionary force was the lower class. Brazil, however, had a unique process to acquire …show more content…
In the early 19th century, when the momentum of the revolution was driving most of Latin America to fight for independence, the wave skipped over Central America. In this area, like most of Latin America, independence was a debate amongst the elite (creoles). It was in the creoles best interest, at the time, to stay under Spanish rule since they did not believe they could control the lower classes on their own. It also did not help that the Spanish military was strong in the region; a revolt would have been more difficult for Central America. Liberals did, however, declare independence later on and a struggle for power created turmoil in the region for a