Causes of Independence
Which event in 1808 created a power vacuum in Spanish America?
Napoleon removed the Spanish king.
Who led independence movements in northern South America and envisioned Gran Colombia?
Simón Bolívar.
What Central American federation collapsed by 1838?
The United Provinces of Central America.
Which group held elite power after independence?
Creoles.
Which Caribbean colony became the world’s top sugar producer?
Cuba.
What economic policy angered Creoles because it restricted colonial trade?
Mercantilism.
Which leader crossed the Andes and liberated Chile before helping free Peru?
José de San Martín.
What was one major cause of the breakup of Gran Colombia?
Geographic and regional divisions.
Which 1830 Venezuelan law forced the sale of “unused” land and hurt Indigenous people?
The land decree requiring the sale of land labeled “unused.”
When did Brazil officially end the slave trade?
1850.
What two social/intellectual forces helped inspire Creole demands for self-rule?
Enlightenment ideas + the example of the American and French Revolutions.
Who issued the Grito de Dolores that began Mexico’s 1810 uprising?
Miguel Hidalgo.
Why did new nations struggle economically after independence?
Wars left them in debt and reliant on exporting raw goods.
Which 3 labor systems kept rural workers tied to landowners?
Slavery, peonage, and tenancy.
What system in Venezuela extended forced labor even after reforms?
The apprenticeship system (until age 25).
Why did Creoles form juntas claiming loyalty to the king even though they wanted more autonomy?
Because the king’s removal weakened Spanish legitimacy, allowing Creoles to justify exercising self-rule while pretending loyalty.
Why did San Martín withdraw after meeting Bolívar in 1822?
To avoid conflict over different visions for how new governments should be structured.
How did foreign investors shape Latin American economies after independence?
They controlled railroads, mines, and trade, reinforcing economic dependence.
How did post-independence land policies in Venezuela contradict the idea of “freedom”?
Freedom existed legally, but land laws dispossessed Indigenous communities and reinforced elite control, limiting real independence.
How did sugar expansion in Cuba increase racial inequality?
Plantation growth relied heavily on enslaved African labor and forced small farmers out.
How did race, class, and economics combine to push Creoles toward independence?
Creoles were wealthy but blocked from top political/military positions by Peninsulares; mercantilism restricted their economic opportunities; and racial hierarchy limited social mobility—together creating resentment against Spain.
Why did Bolívar’s dream of a unified Latin America ultimately fail?
Regional identities, geography, and rival elites prevented political unity, causing Gran Colombia to dissolve.
Why did political independence NOT lead to meaningful change for most citizens?
Inequality persisted; Creoles replaced Peninsulares, economies stayed export-dependent, and Indigenous/Afro-descended groups continued facing discrimination.
Why did racial inequality persist even though independence ended colonial rule?
Racial hierarchies and European racial theories continued shaping society; Indigenous and Afro-descended people still faced discrimination and exclusion from political power.
Why did emancipation fail to provide true freedom for formerly enslaved people across Latin America?
Legal freedom did not include land, wages, or rights; racial discrimination continued, and political opportunities remained limited.