Latin American Creoles Analysis

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Latin American colonies during the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries were a hotbed of resentment and discontent among the lower castes of society. Indigenous and slave populations were brutalized and exploited in order to fill the coffers of aristocratic elites and foreign monarchies. Somewhere in the middle, a growing population of mixed-race ethnic groups found themselves ostracized and struggling to find their niche in life. News of foreign events and new philosophies and ideologies filtered into the New World from around the globe and inspired the oppressed masses to rise up under the leadership of a few extraordinary men who helped them fight for independence and bring an end to tyranny. As tensions mounted, these influences helped ignite a series of revolts that were destined to change the status quo in the colonies of Latin America. The struggle in Latin America for oppressed racial groups to gain their independence from European authority and economic control was a battle that involved all levels of colonial society. …show more content…
It pitted royalist loyal to the crown against patriots who wanted autonomy. News of the American and French Revolutions inspired revolts and dreams of change. The goals of various castes of society differed based on their own particular set of circumstances, but ultimately the creoles, mestizos, indigenous and slaves all wanted to improve their quality of life and achieve freedom from their oppressors. The creoles situation was uniquely different from the other groups because they were a free people subjected to mistreatment and social isolation from both ends of the social spectrum. Their main goal, however, was the elimination of forced tribute to the aristocratic elite who systematically prohibited their advancement in social, political and economic endeavors. Creoles found their champion in Simón Bolívar, a strong leader who was born to an aristocratic creole family and influenced by Enlightenment writings on rationalism and materialism. Bolívar helped bring an end to infringements against creoles in northern South America, such as paying tribute and limiting the right of citizenship only to property owners. Creoles also found strong leadership under Father Miguel Hidalgo after the Bourbon monarchy issued policies ordering the Church to collect outstanding debts and mortgages under the Consolidación de Vales Reales, which caused financial hardships and despair among the creole population and further alienating them from the Crown. In addition the revolts encouraged a growing sense of nationalism and loyalty to the provinces. Unfortunately changes these leaders helped accomplish for creoles usually excluded the indigenous and slave populations. Reforms enacted by the Spanish Bourbon monarchy intended to increase royal revenues highlighted the misfortunes of lower classes and further fueled the flames of revolt. The harsh regulations imposed upon indigenous people required them to pay tribute, participate in forced labor and abide by trade regulations that broke down traditional peasant economies. These hardships encouraged them to dream of a return to the old ways under the Inca Empire and a caste system that restored them to power. When Charles III extended reforms to include the population of mixed-race inhabitants ,mestizos, the Crown successfully increased its revenue but in the process significantly added to the misery of the masses. In Peru, discontent over these changes culminated in a revolt for independence under the leadership of José Gabriel Condorcanqui, also known as Tupac Amaru II . His ultimate goal was for

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