Chapter 24 Section 1

José María Morelos

The rebels then rallied around another strong leader

Miguel Hidalgo

a priest in the small village of Dolores,

Simón Bolívar

a wealthy Venezuelan creole.

José de San Martín

an Argentinian.

creole

Spaniards born in Latin America, were below the peninsulares in rank. Creoles could not hold high-level political office, but they could rise as officers in Spanish colonial armies.

Which groups led the quest for Mexican independence?

Events in Mexico took yet another turn in 1820 when a revolution in Spain put a liberal group in power there. 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.

How was Spanish colonial society structured?

In Latin American colonial society, class dictated people's place in society and jobs. At the top of Spanish-American society were the, people who had been born in Spain, which is on the Iberian peninsula. They formed a tiny percentage of the population. Only peninsulares could hold high office in Spanish colonial government. Creoles, Spaniards born in Latin America, were below the peninsulares in rank. Creoles could not hold high-level political office, but they could rise as officers in Spanish colonial armies. Together these two groups controlled land, wealth, and power in the Spanish colonies. Below the peninsulares and creoles came the mestizos, persons of mixed European and Indian ancestry. Next were the mulattos, persons of mixed European and African ancestry, and enslaved Africans. Indians were at the bottom of the social ladder.

How was the Haitian Revolution different from revolutions in the rest of Latin America?

Nearly 500,000 enslaved Africans worked on French plantations, and they out- numbered their masters dramatically. White masters used brutal methods to terror- ize them and keep them powerless. While the French Revolution was taking place, oppressed people in the French colony of Haiti rose up against their French masters. In August 1791, 100,000 enslaved Africans rose in revolt. A leader soon emerged, Toussaint L'Ouverture (too•SAN loo•vair•TOOR). Formerly enslaved, Toussaint was unfamiliar with mili- tary and diplomatic matters. Even so, he rose to become a skilled general and diplomat. By 1801, Toussaint had taken control of the entire island and freed all the enslaved Africans.

peninsulare

people who had been born in Spain, which is on the Iberian peninsula. They formed a tiny percentage of the population. Only penin- sulares could hold high office in Spanish colonial government.

mulatto

persons of mixed European and African ancestry, and enslaved Africans. Indians were at the bottom of the social ladder.