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Why did the Creoles lead the fight for Latin American Independence?

Partial Essay- 1st Hour

Global HIPPOS

Between 1500-1800 CE, the Spanish established colonies across the world including . With the age of the Enlightenment, inspired by the ideas of Locke (life, liberty, property) and Voltaire (Freedom of speech, religion), people of the lower classes were encouraged to revolt. With the success of the American and Haitian Revolutions, and the courage of the fighting French in the French Revolution, Latin American Creoles were inspired to gain control in the country of their birth. During the early 1800’s, the Creoles (also known as the second class citizens) fought for Latin American Independence from the Spanish. The Creoles wanted to establish control over the Spanish dominated economy, to gain political authority over the peninsulares, and settle social unrest in the region.

During this time dominated Latin America’s economy. “We in America are perhaps the first to be forced by our own government to sell our products at artificially low prices and buy what we need at artificially high prices,” (Doc. C). Due to Spain’s mercantilist ideals, the country controlled all aspects of Latin America’s economy in order to benefit the mother country. Spain regulated the colonies goods that were imported and exported, causing the daily detriment of the colonists. In “An Open Letter to America,” Juan Pablo Viscardo, a Creole, encouraged Latin American colonies to acknowledge their economic oppression and revolt against the Spanish. Viscardo believed that Americanos knew what was best for Latin America as opposed to Spanish leaders working for the benefit of the Spanish crown. Spain stripped Latin America of its potential wealth through exploitation of conquered people in the colony by claiming its natural resources and raw materials, including silver and sugar, for Spain. New found silver in Latin American colonies initially boosted Spain’s wealth but would later go on to demolish its economy due to inflation. Due to Spain’s economic dependence on the Latin America’s colonies many Creoles sought an opportunity to revolt in order to gain financial control.

Above body paragraph includes SAS of 1 document, Authors POV (1 HIPP), Outside Information.

Unfinished Synthesis Statement:

The Creoles fight for Latin American Independence can be compared to earlier revolutions of the late 1700’s and early 1800’s including the American, French, and Haitian Revolutions. Politically as seen in the French Revolution members of the 3rd Estate sought to gain a democratic voice in the government, just like the Creoles.

Economic- American rev mercantilism

Social- Haitian – slavery

Why did the Creoles lead the fight for Latin American Independence?

Partial Essay- 2nd Hour

Global HIPPOS

Between 1500-1800 CE, the Spanish established colonies across the world, including Latin America. There the Spanish would setup a Viceroy political system and a mercantilist economy, forcing people within the colony into submission. Socially, a hierarchy placing American born (Creoles) as second class citizens would encourage rebellion, especially following the successful American and Haitian Revolutions and the courage of the fighting French during the French Revolution. During the 18th and 19th centuries in Spanish America, Creoles would lead the fight for Latin American Independence due to the fear of social unrest, and the want for political and economic control from the Spanish peninsulares.

Creoles in Spanish America feared social unrest. In 1810 Father Hidalgo, a Mexican Creole priest challenged and fought against the injustice of the Spanish government (Doc. E). Father Hidalgo was unique because he fought to improve the position of all people in Spanish America as opposed to only his social class, the Creoles. Due to his actions, all social groups worked to better their social status, causing social unrest within Latin America. This created fear among other Creoles who only wanted to better their social standings. Creoles wanted to be the ruling class in Latin America, as opposed to the peninsulares who would maintain the highest ranking socially. In 1808 the Spanish monarchy was overthrown by Napoleon. This created a political power vacuum and a challenge to the peninsulares authority in Latin America (Doc. F). Creoles quickly became aware of the situation and fought to fill this political vacuum. Creoles understood the social divisions in Latin America and how these divisions could infiltrate their political and economic ways of living, therefore the Creoles wanted to establish their own power in Latin America. The majority of Creoles viewed themselves as the rightful leaders of Latin America and wanted to secure their social position in society, keeping the lower classes in check. The social hierarchy in Latin America was established through colonization. The Spanish discovered valuable resources such as silver and climates suitable for sugar cane growth. The Spanish used Native Americans to work the land, but due to disease and a decrease in the Native population, the Spanish had to resort to a new labor source: African slaves. By oppressing certain groups of people overtime it built the social hierarchy in Latin America. Due to revolting and the collapse of the , the Creoles wanted to obtain control of Latin America.

Above paragraph includes SAS of 2 documents, 2 HIPP, Outside info

During the 18th and 19th centuries in Spanish America, Creoles would lead the fight for Latin American Independence due to the fear of social unrest, and the want for political and economic control from the Spanish peninsulares. The Latin American Revolutions can be compared to other revolutions of the late 1700’s and early 1800’s, including the American, French, and Haitian Revolutions. Both Latin America and North America were colonized by nations overseas. Latin America was controlled by Spain whereas North America was colonized by Britain. Politically, they were both ruled by monarchs. As seen in both the Latin American Revolutions and the French Revolution, these monarchs controlled taxes in the colonies, usually taxing the lower classes more. This tax money was then spent by the monarchs on luxury items. Socially, as seen in Latin America and Haiti, the majority of the population was oppressed by the higher classes. This would encourage revolt against government leaders to improve their social positions on the hierarchy and to gain freedom. Overall, the revolutions of this time impacted history and helped to inspire democratic countries of today.

Above paragraph= full conclusion

Why did the Creoles lead the fight for Latin American Independence?

Partial Essay- 3rd Hour

Global HIPPOS

Between 1500-1800 CE, Spain established colonies across the world, including Latin America. Within these colonies the Spanish born Peninsulares maintained the highest social standing in Latin America. Peninsulares had political authority in Latin America, obtaining positions such as Viceroys within . Below the Peninsulares were American born Spaniards (Creoles) who maintained the second class citizen status, not allowed certain jobs such as that of a Viceroy. As the Spanish Empire grew older and weaker, economically Latin America suffered. This coupled with the successful American and Haitian Revolutions and the strong courage of the fighting French, inspired Creoles to rise against the Spanish. Between 1800-1830 in Latin America the second class citizens, the Creoles, would lead the fight for independence from Spanish authority. Creoles were inspired by nationalism to take control politically as well as economically in Latin America. Additionally, the Creoles feared social unrest and attempted to improve their social status while keeping those below them in check.

Creoles were inspired by nationalism to take control politically in Latin America. In 1819 Simon Bolivar stated that Creoles were in a dual conflict, which referred to one’s political and social status based upon the location of a person’s birth, (Doc. A). “We are struggling to maintain ourselves in the country that gave us birth against the opposition of the invaders,” (Doc. A). At this point Creoles viewed Spain as a foreign land and figured they could govern themselves without direct orders from a foreign nation. Creoles felt politically inferior to the peninsulares, and this fueled a sense of nationalism within America as the Creoles lost their identification with Spain. The Creoles felt betrayed by Spain and threatened by the peninsulares’ position, leading them to seize political control of their homeland. Simon Bolivar’s purpose for this speech was to unite Creoles through a sense of nationalism and rally Americanos against a common enemy. Bolivar’s words would suggest that home rule took priority over foreign rule. Once Latin America achieved independence from Spain, from the mid 1800’s to present day, Caudillos seized control in many Latin American countries. A Caudillo is a leader who is charismatic and rules as a military dictator. An example of a Caudillo leader would include Juan Peron of Argentina following WWII. Peron was inspired by Latin American nationalism to boost correct eras of European Imperialism and unite all of Latin America under one rule. Simon Bolivar had a similar plan for a Gran Columbia much like the United States of America, while Peron’s plan was more so inspired by Nazi Germany.

Above Paragraph Includes:

SAS of 1 document, 1HIPP, Outside info

Why did the Creoles lead the fight for Latin American Independence?

Partial Essay- 7th Hour

Global HIPPOS

Between 1492-1830 CE, the Spanish established colonies throughout the world, specifically in Latin America. Within Latin America a strict social structure was established with Peninsulares (Europeans born in Spain) on top of the social hierarchy while Creoles (Europeans born in America) were considered second class citizens. As the Spanish Empire grew older and weaker, problems arrived in the colonies such as drought, improper taxation, and limited representation. Due to Enlightenment revelations, such as Locke’s ideas of “Life, Liberty, and Property,” and the successful American and Haitian Revolutions, this encouraged people to rise up and revolt. During the 1800’s, Latin American Creoles were unsatisfied with their position in society which inspired them to revolt against the Peninsulares. Creoles’ position in society dictated their miniscule role in government and limitations in commerce. The Creoles protests eventually created a drastic change in the social hierarchy.

Creoles had a small role in colonial government. Creoles had growing influence in economic and social fields while peninsulares dominated the political arena (Doc. B). Due to the Creoles growing influence economically and militarily, it resulted in a yearning for more say in the government. By the early 1800’s as the Spanish Empire was becoming less centralized and Enlightenment ideas were spurring revolutions globally, Creoles seized the opportunity to gain complete control of their birth country and rid foreign rule. A crisis of legitimacy was evident in Spain when Napoleon conquered the country. Napoleon replaced the Spanish king with his brother Joseph, encouraging the Creoles to revolt and seize political control in Latin America. Colonel Agustin de Iturbide was a successful Creole leader who established freedom for in 1821. As the leader of Mexico he was a charismatic leader who gained and held political through the use of a military (also known as a caudillo). Iturbide’s hunger for power and attempt at dictatorship eventually led to a Mexican Republic. Although eventually losing power, Iturbide’s rule fought for more political influence for Creoles.

Above paragraph includes SAS of 1 document, 1 HIPP, Outside Info

Unfinished Synthesis Statement:

America Rev, FR, Haitian

P- Haitian Rev- ending in dictatorship

E- FR- Taxes

S – America Rev- Led by upper middle class