Social Studies Unit 3: Latin and South American Revolutions

Mulatto

A person of mixed African and European ancestry

Mestizos

A person of mixed Native American and European ancestry.

Identify which of the four social classes in Latin America led the independence movements.

Creoles led the majority of the independence movements throughout the rest of Latin America. As these ideals spread in Latin America, many mestizos and other lower classes were inspired by the ideas of equality and freedom as well.

Creoles

Descendants of Spanish-born but born in Latin America; resented inferior social, political, economic status.

Tell the outcome of the Haitian revolution and what made it unique.

First Latin American Country to be independent. This the only successful slave revolt in history.

The European nation that colonized Haiti before its revolution.

France

Name four things that inspired the Haitian, Mexican, and South American revolutions.

Inspired by the Enlightenment as well as by the American Revolution, the spread of nationalism, and the revolutions in Europe.

Name the person who led the revolution against Spain in Mexico.

Padre Miguel y Costilla Hidalgo (Father Miguel Hidalgo)

Describe how nationalistic feelings inspired creoles and lower classes to fight for rights and equality.

Similar to what was occurring in Europe, nationalistic feelings intensified desires for self-rule and the revolutionary ideas that were spreading in Europe inspired creoles and the other lower classes to begin fighting for the rights and equality not allowed by their class systems. Creoles and the other lower classes used Enlightenment ideas such as Locke's idea of consent of the governed along with nationalistic ideas to justify rebellion against Spain.

Describe the accomplishments of Simon Bolivar and Jose de San Martin.

Simon Bolivar, a creole general, led the independence movements throughout South America beginning in his home country of Venezuela in 1811. Bolivar then moved into Colombia and Ecuador, where he met Jose de San Martin, who had recently freed Chile. Together, the two men combined forces under Bolivar's command to liberate Peru. Bolivar's dream to unite the Spanish colonies of South America into a single country, known as Gran Colombia.

Peninsulares

Spanish-born, came to Latin America; ruled, highest social class.

Name the two Latin American social classes that were the lowest on the social structure.

The mestizos and mulattoes

What happened in 1823 to five Central American nations?

The nations of Central America (Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Costa Rica) declared their independence from Mexico.

Name the two Latin American social classes that possessed wealth, power, and land in Latin America.

The peninsulares, the wealthy Spanish-born citizens, constituted the smallest percentage of the population yet occupied the highest political positions in society. The creoles were Spaniards born in Latin America who could not hold political office but could be army officers.

Name the leader of the Haitian revolution.

Toussaint L'ouverture