A revolution is an overthrow or repudiation and the thorough replacement of an established government or political system by the people governed. The American Revolution was a political upheaval that took place between 1765 and 1783 during which the thirteen colonies broke from the British empire and formed an independent nation. The Latin American Wars of Independence were the revolutions that took place during the late 18th and early 19th centuries and resulted in the creation of a number of independent countries in Latin America. These two revolutions were fueled by feelings of nationalism due to oppressive rule from Britain and Spain, such as with the restrictive mercantile system. Enlightenment ideas also nurtured the colonists of America
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By the late 18th century, a rigid social hierarchy existed in colonial Latin America. Certain groups had more power and privilege than others, and there was little room for social advancement. Social structure was one of the factors that caused dissatisfaction amongst the Creoles. In Latin America, peninsulares, who were Spaniards born in Spain, dominated all aspects of life. Peninsulares were the only class that could have jobs within the government. They also had all power over economy and government. The discontent of the Creoles led them to lead different wars of independence. The Creoles believed that independence would change their position in society They believed the Spanish could be defeated, and that economic social and political power would all belong to the Creoles. In North America, the class distinctions were not as clear. The American colonial society was in nature meritocratic; the colonists, if they worked hard enough, could become wealthy and powerful. A sense of social mobility existed for everyone, except the slaves, because they all migrated from Britain and didn’t fuse cultures as opposed to in Latin America. Because a complex social hierarchy based on racial identity was absent in North America, the revolutions differ in that …show more content…
Napoleon ousted the Spanish king, Ferdinand VII, and placed his brother Joseph on the Spanish throne. This caused the legitimacy crisis to arise. Legitimacy is the authority that inspires obedience. Because this new king was not of Spanish descent, the Latin American colonists questioned his authority and felt no loyalty to him. In Latin America, leaders saw Spanish weakness as an opportunity to reject foreign domination and demand independence from colonial rule. However, in North America, they did not experience a problem with legitimacy because they were all British subjects. The Americans did not question their king but they did feel hostility towards their king and the British government because they believed that their basic rights were constantly being infringed upon. After the French and Indian War, the British government passed a series of taxes to help pay their war debt. The Stamp Act passed in 1765 ignited outrage in the colonies. The colonies were upset by the taxes because it seemed that the British government were striking at their local liberties they had come to assume as a matter of right. Their legislation jeopardized the basic rights of the colonists as Englishmen. The slogan “No taxation without representation” emerged in response to parliamentary taxes. The Americans made a distinction between legislation and taxation.
By the late 18th century, a rigid social hierarchy existed in colonial Latin America. Certain groups had more power and privilege than others, and there was little room for social advancement. Social structure was one of the factors that caused dissatisfaction amongst the Creoles. In Latin America, peninsulares, who were Spaniards born in Spain, dominated all aspects of life. Peninsulares were the only class that could have jobs within the government. They also had all power over economy and government. The discontent of the Creoles led them to lead different wars of independence. The Creoles believed that independence would change their position in society They believed the Spanish could be defeated, and that economic social and political power would all belong to the Creoles. In North America, the class distinctions were not as clear. The American colonial society was in nature meritocratic; the colonists, if they worked hard enough, could become wealthy and powerful. A sense of social mobility existed for everyone, except the slaves, because they all migrated from Britain and didn’t fuse cultures as opposed to in Latin America. Because a complex social hierarchy based on racial identity was absent in North America, the revolutions differ in that …show more content…
Napoleon ousted the Spanish king, Ferdinand VII, and placed his brother Joseph on the Spanish throne. This caused the legitimacy crisis to arise. Legitimacy is the authority that inspires obedience. Because this new king was not of Spanish descent, the Latin American colonists questioned his authority and felt no loyalty to him. In Latin America, leaders saw Spanish weakness as an opportunity to reject foreign domination and demand independence from colonial rule. However, in North America, they did not experience a problem with legitimacy because they were all British subjects. The Americans did not question their king but they did feel hostility towards their king and the British government because they believed that their basic rights were constantly being infringed upon. After the French and Indian War, the British government passed a series of taxes to help pay their war debt. The Stamp Act passed in 1765 ignited outrage in the colonies. The colonies were upset by the taxes because it seemed that the British government were striking at their local liberties they had come to assume as a matter of right. Their legislation jeopardized the basic rights of the colonists as Englishmen. The slogan “No taxation without representation” emerged in response to parliamentary taxes. The Americans made a distinction between legislation and taxation.