Latin American Social Hierarchy, Independence, and Nation-Building
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Latin American Social Hierarchy
1. Peninsulares: People born in Spain. They were at the top of the social hierarchy.
2. Creoles: Spaniards born in Latin America. They lived comfortably.
3. Mestizos: People of mixed European and Indigenous ancestry.
4. Mulattos: People of mixed European and African ancestry.
5. Africans: Enslaved people.
6. Indigenous Peoples: Native Americans.
The Enlightenment changed ideas about who should control government.
The Revolutions in the Americas
- By the late 1700s, colonists in Latin America were already aware of Enlightenment ideas.
- They were electrified by the news of the American and French Revolutions.
- The success of the American Revolution encouraged them to try to gain freedom from European powers.
Bonds That Create a Nation-State
- Culture: A shared way of life (food, dress, behavior, ideas).
- Religion: A religion shared by all or most of the people.
- Nationality: Belief in common ethnic ancestry that may or may not be true.
- Territory: A defined territory that belongs to the ethnic group; its "land".
- Language: Different dialects of one language; one dialect becomes the "national language".
- History: A common past; shared experiences.
Political Ideologies
- Conservative: Usually wealthy property owners and nobility. They argued for protecting the traditional monarchies of Europe.
- Liberal: Mostly middle-class business leaders and merchants. They wanted to give more power to elected parliaments, but only the educated and landowners would vote.
- Radical: Favored drastic change to extend democracy to all people. They believed that governments should practice the ideals of the French Revolution: liberty, equality, and brotherhood.
Key Figures in Latin American Independence
- Simón Bolívar: Venezuela declared its independence from Spain in 1811 under his leadership.
- San Martín: Argentina had declared its independence in 1816. He planned to drive the remaining Spanish forces out of Lima, Peru.
- Padre Miguel Hidalgo: A poor but well-educated man who firmly believed in Enlightenment ideals. His army was defeated in 1811.
- Padre José María Morelos: Led the revolution for four years. However, in 1815, a Creole officer, Agustín de Iturbide, defeated him.