LATIN AMERICAN REVOLUTIONS• Haiti• Mexico• South America

WHAT FORCES ARE DRIVING THESE REVOLUTIONS?

Enlightenment thoughtAmerican Revolution

French RevolutionSocial classesSlavery (Haiti)

HAITI French colony occupying the western third of Hispaniola

Largest and valuable island in the Western Hemisphere Perfect climate for sugar, coffee, and cotton plantations Produced 30% of the world’s sugar and 50% of coffee Trade with the island accounted for ½ of France’s foreign

trade and equaled that of the United States

500,000 slaves lived and worked on the island

1789 – sporadic slave revolts occur during the early stages of the French Revolution How would the FR help launch the Haitian Revolution?

By 1791, 100,000 slaves rebelled demanding natural rights and an end to slavery

TOUSSAINT LOUVERTURE• Former slave• Property owner• Led slave uprising• Guerilla tactics

against the British and the French

French perspectives of revolution

Haitian Perspective

THE REVOLUTION GROWS Revolution continues

unabated since 1789 British and Spanish forces

invade island in 1793 Why?

Haitian colonial government grants freedom to slaves in 1793 Why?

French government grants freedom in 1794

Consolidated mulatto/slave forces defeat foreign invasion under T’Lo by 1799

ENTER NAPOLEON IN 1802!

• Napoleon reinstitutes slavery and attempts to reconquer the island

• Why would Napoleon reinstitute slavery

FRENCH VS HAITIANS • 35,000 strong French army destroy island and inhabitants

• Never pacify whole island

• Malaria and yellow fever devastate French forces

• French forces withdraw in 1803• 50,000 killed

• Island declared independent in 1804

• United under Jean Jacques Dessalines

Leclerc’s, the commanding general, letter to Napoleon regarding the situation on St. Domingue

“50 prisoners have been hung; these men die with an incredible fanaticism; they laugh at

death; it is the same with women…it appears to me from the orders that you send me that you have not got a clear idea of my position here…It is not enough to have taken away

Toussaint. Here is my opinion. You will have to exterminate all the blacks in the mountains,

women as well as men. Except for children under twelve. Wipe out half the population of the lowlands, and do not leave in the colony a single black who has worn an epaulet…Send 12,000 replacements immediately, and 10

million francs in cash, or St. Domingue is lost forever.”

MEXICAN REVOLUTION…1810-1821

CRY OF DOLORES…

MEXICAN REVOLUTION 1810 - Cry of Dolores launches revolution against the Spanish

Padre Morelos keeps fighting after Hidalgo’s execution

1815 - Iturbide, a Creole officer fighting for Spain, defeats Morelos

1820 – Revolution led by Iturbide and the creole class defeat Spanish

Why would Iturbide revolt?

1821 – Mexican independence

BUILD UP TO INTERNAL REVOLUTION

Mexican state established in 1821

Mexico ruled by Santa Anna (1830s-1850s) – caudillo with terrible foreign policy. Lose territory and

prestige Mexico attempts to

reform and liberalize under Benito Juarez

Juarez (1860s-1876) – progressive, liberal rulerRedistribute land and help poor La Reforma

Coup occurs placing Porfirio Diaz in control

Diaz (1876-1911) – conservative, autocratic ruler Rulers through fear:

“bread or club” Discontent with Diaz

leads to a popular revolution/civil war in 1910

MEXICO’S TURBULENT 19TH CENTURY• Santa Anna

• Benito Juarez

• Porfirio Diaz

MEXICAN CIVIL WAR 1911-1917

• Ends with the creation of Caranza’s Constitution

• Constitution of 1917• Promote social

equality• Gender equality• Minimum wage• 6 year presidential

term limit

• Mexico governed by the same constitution today

SOUTH AMERICAN INDEPENDENCESpanish and Portuguese Colonies

Brazilian Independence

BRAZIL’S PEACEFUL INDEPENDENCE

Napoleon’s influence Royal family fled Portugal for Rio de Janiero in 1807

Post 1815 the royal family returned to Portugal Son (Dom Pedro) stayed behind to rule

Brazilian creoles wouldn’t accept a return to colonial status Petition to have Dom Pedro independently rule Brazil

Independence was granted bloodlessly in 1822. Slavery and monarchy exist and dominate society until the late 1800s. Slavery abolished in 1888; Monarchy in 1889