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Latin American Wars of Independence, 1811-21 (North, Simon Bolivar)

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Latin American Wars of Independence, 1811-21 (North, Simon Bolivar)

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Simón Bolívar’s native Venezuela declared its independence from Spain in 1811. in August 1819, Bolívar led over 2,000 soldiers on a daring march through the Andes into what is now Colombia. Coming from this direction, he took the Spanish army in Bogotá completely by surprise and won a decisive victory. By 1821, Bolívar had won Venezuela’s independence. He then marched south into Ecuador. In Ecuador, Bolívar finally met José de San Martín. Together they would decide the future of the Latin American revolutionary movement.

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Mexico’s creoles feared the loss of their privileges in the Spanish-controlled colony. So, they united in support of Mexico’s independence from Spain. Ironically, Agustín de Iturbide, the man who had defeated the rebel Padre Morelos proclaimed independence in 1821.

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In 1822, creoles demanded Brazil’s independence from Portugal. Eight thousand Brazilians signed a petition asking Dom Pedro to rule. and on September 7, 1822, he officially declared Brazil’s independence.

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In August 1791, 100,000 enslaved Africans rose in revolt. Toussaint Louverture became a leader and became a general and diplomat. 1801, Toussaint had taken control of the entire island and freed all the enslaved Africans. In Jan 1802, 30,000 French troops landed in Saint Domingue to remove Toussaint from power. In May, Toussaint agreed to halt the revolution if the French would end slavery. The French accused him of planning another uprising. They sent him to a prison in the French Alps, where he died in April 1803. Toussaint’s lieutenant, Jean Jacques Dessalines, took up the fight for freedom. On January 1, 1804, General Dessalines declared the colony an independent country.

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Latin American Wars of Independence 1824 (South, San Martin)

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Latin American Wars of Independence 1824 (South, San Martin)

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San Martín left his army for Bolívar to command. With unified revolutionary forces, Bolívar’s army went on to defeat the Spanish at the Battle of Ayacucho, Peru, on December 9, 1824. In this last major battle of the war for independence, the Spanish colonies in Latin America won their freedom.