Latin American Independence Movements
Explore how Latin America broke free from Spanish and Portuguese colonial rule through revolutionary movements inspired by Enlightenment ideals.
The Latin American independence movements (c. 1808–1833) were the revolutionary struggles through which Spain's and Portugal's American colonies achieved independence, creating the nations of modern Latin America. Inspired by the American and French Revolutions, and triggered by Napoleon's invasion of the Iberian Peninsula, these movements transformed the political geography of the Western Hemisphere.
Simón Bolívar, 'the Liberator,' led the independence of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia through brilliant military campaigns across some of the most challenging terrain on Earth. José de San Martín liberated Argentina, Chile, and Peru from the south. In Mexico, the movement began with the popular uprising of Father Hidalgo in 1810, though independence was not secured until 1821. Brazil achieved independence relatively peacefully when the Portuguese crown prince declared himself emperor in 1822.
The new nations faced enormous challenges. The colonial social hierarchy — with Creoles (American-born Europeans) at the top and indigenous and African-descended populations at the bottom — persisted after independence. Political instability, military strongmen (caudillos), economic dependence on raw material exports, and foreign intervention would characterize Latin American politics for generations. The revolutionary ideals of liberty and equality remained unfulfilled for the majority of the population.