Between 1807-1825, most of Latin America gained independence from Spain and Portugal through nationalist revolts led by Creoles. The Haitian Revolution of 1804 established the first independent state in Latin America after slaves overthrew French control of Saint-Domingue. Miguel Hidalgo led an unsuccessful revolt in Mexico in 1810 seeking independence. José de San Martín and Simón Bolívar led successful revolutions across South America to liberate the continent from Spanish rule. This established five new republics in Central America and helped other South American nations achieve independence from Spain.

1. NATION BUILDING IN
LATIN AMERICA
CH.6 SECTION 4

2. NATIONALIST REVOLTS
• Creoles: descendants of Europeans born in Latin
America
• Denounced the rule of Spanish and Portuguese
• Napoleon overthrew Spanish and Portuguese
monarchies allowing revolutionary movements to
succeed
• Between 1807-1825 most of Latin America became
independent
• They were influenced by revolutions in North America

3. HISPANIOLA
• Saint Domingue- a French colony on the island of
Hispaniola
• 1804 over 1000,000 slaves revolted and siezed
control over all of Hispaniola
• Became the first independent state in Latin America
• Now called Haiti

4. REVOLT IN MEXICO
• Miguel Hidalgo led a mob of Native Americans and
mestizos to attack Spaniards- ultimately failed
• Mexico’s independence day
• Creoles and officials decided to overthrow Spain to
preserve their own power
• Army led by Agustin de Iturbide who named himself
emperor after Mexico declared its independence in 1822

5. REVOLTS IN SOUTH AMERICA
• Jose de San Martin and Simon Bolivar led
revolutions throughout the continent
• Believed Spaniards must be removed in order for South
America to be free
• They were able to liberate all of Central America
• Martin’s journey to Chile- Led troops over the Andes
to attack Spanish
• 2/3 of the pack mules and horses died and soldiers suffered
from cold and lack of oxygen on mountains

6. CENTRAL AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE
• Divided into 5 republics: Guatemala, El Salvador,
Honduras, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua
• Concert of Europe wanted to restore Spanish power
• Britain did not because of trade with South America
• Proposed an alliance with the US to stop COE

7. MONROE DOCTRINE
• President James Monroe didn’t trust British motives
• Monroe Doctrine: declared that American
continents were no longer up for colonization by
other countries
• US could not necessarily back it up
• British Navy also protected South America