Latin America In The Late 1700s

In the late 1700s, the revolutionary fever that gripped Western Europe had spread to Latin America. There discontent was rooted in the social, racial, and political system that had emerged during the 300 years of spanish rule. Latin American countries wanted to be free from Europe rule, as well as the American colonies. Latin America gained its encouragement from two independence movements which were from the American Revolution (1700s) and the French Revolution (1789). What caused Latin America to seek its independence was precursor movements, colonial policies, european influences, and the european events. American Revolution, Haitian Revolution, and Internal Revolts Uprising led to the precursor movements. Napoleons invasion, French Revolution,

and the capture of Fredin and Vill led to the European events. Enlightment thought and contacts by Francisco Miranda “ the precursor” led to the Europeans influences. Discrimination against creoles, unpopular bourbon reforms, and mistreatment of non whites, such as slavery and encomienda were colonial policies.
Moreover, Peninsulares were men born in Spain or Portugal who held highest offices and important military and political positions. Creoles which were spaniards born in Latin American colonies who were officers in army, but not in government and controlled much of the land and business in the colonies. Although they deeply resented power of peninsulares and their second class. Mestizos were made up of the majority of the society since they were mixed European and Indian. Most worked as servants to the peninsulares as well as plantation overseas and farmhands. Mulattos were European and African mixed ancestry. Last but not least the Native American/ Africans were the lowest group of the society but the largest in its people. They were not recognized as citizens, even though they did much of the labor. Mestizos and creoles were angry at being denied status, wealth, and power available to whites. Native Americans suffered economic misery under the spanish. Enslaved Africans who worked on plantations longed for freedom.