Historical Analysis: Latin America's Colonial Rebellions and Aftermath

This report, presented in a journalistic style, chronicles the significant transformations in Latin America following Spanish and Portuguese colonization. It explores the economic shifts, including the rise of sugar plantations and silver mines, alongside the emergence of guilds and the introduction of foreign influence. The report highlights the racial and cultural hierarchies, the dominance of Catholicism, and the subjugation of indigenous people and women. It then details the Latin American wars for independence, inspired by the French Revolution and anti-Napoleon uprisings, led by figures like Simon Bolivar and Jose de San Martin. The report examines the military structures, the ethnic and cultural transformations, and the political instability that followed independence, along with the influence of other nations. The report concludes by questioning the future of Latin America in the context of colonial rule. References to relevant sources are also included.

Running head: A HISTORY OF LATIN AMERICA
HISTORY OF LATIN AMERICA
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1HISTORY OF LATIN AMERICA
NEW YORK POST
March 7, 1870
Changes over the Centuries
Written by Stanley Joseph
Rise of the Nations in Latin America
Latin America and its neighbours have been suffering ever since Spain and Portugal
came and conquered its land. Since then, the country has witnessed changes in its economy,
military, religious and cultural patterns (Weaver).
Sugar was the only item that could bear the cost of transportation across the Atlantic
Ocean. The mines and sugar plantation shares a history with Latin America. Economic
activity increased and rose steadily without any fluctuations as it happened for centuries.
Silver production increased sharply, especially in the mines of Potosi along with the
participation of merchant financiers (Romano). Guilds were built in Mexico and Lima that
took over the commercial and political power. Gold was soon discovered in Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil which paved the way for the foreigners to come in. The racial and cultural hierarchy
was prevalent. Women were the subjugated class, whereas indigenous people were made

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slaves. Venezuela was in a favourable position but soon its Caracas region became the
ground for buying African slaves. Racial mixing was rapidly increasing that the
categorisation of hierarchy could no longer sustain it. Catholicism became a cultural
hegemony. The colonised people were forced to accept the religion of the Iberian kings but
still practised their faith under the guise of the Catholic religion. The church controlled even
education. Patriarchy was the order of the day where women were regarded as the bearer of
children.
Latin America War for Independence
Mexico and Peru was the centre, and the
rest were treated as peripheries. European
demand for tropical crops suddenly
increased. Soon colonial rebellion started in Latin
America against the Iberian takeover that gradually took the shape of war for independence.
French revolution and anti-Napoleon uprising inspired the indigenous people of Latin
America to rise for revolt. The Creoles in Spanish America revolted against the Peninsulars
as they occupied the highest position in all the fields (Chambers). Tupac Amaru II revolt
started that took the region from the Spanish people for some time but it was called off.
Between 1808-26 all the colonies of Latin America except Cuba and Puerto Rico slipped
from the Iberian hands. Reforms of the Spanish Bourbons led to instability and further spoilt
the relations. Situations in Europe created a political divide between Latin America and
Spain. The rebellion started from north and south led by Simon Bolivar and Jose de San
Martin, respectively (Chasteen). These movements inspired other revolts in the region. San
Martin of Latin America crossed the Andes and restored independence in a region where the
royalists defeated the factionalized junta in 1814. He even freed Peru. In the north, a slave

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revolt took place that took the shape of a civil war. Mexico and Brazil gradually gained
independence.
Simon Bolivar
From the 18th century,
the Spanish Americans
formed a formal military organisation. Initially, it had port garrisons, fictional militias and
paid soldiers. The Creoles used farming tools as weapons to fight foreigners. They lacked
military discipline. On the other hand, the mestizo army was well organised. Their leader was
against the caste system and slavery that prevailed in the country for centuries.
Latin America gained freedom after a thorough ethnic and cultural transformation.
But in the initial years of independence, they faced a lot of political instability. The economy
collapsed and Iberian policies were still followed where patriarchy was the order of the day.
The new leaders tried to gain control over the church.
After independence, other countries started pouring into the lands of Latin America.
Will Latin America ever be free from the clutches of colonial rule is a question that will be
answered with time.

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References
Chambers, Glenn A. "Africans into Creoles: Slavery, Ethnicity, and Identity in Colonial
Costa Rica." (2016): 161-163.
Chasteen, John Charles. A Concise History To Latin America: Born In Blood And Fire. 4th
ed., W.W. Norton & Co., 2016.
Romano, Rossana Barragán. "Dynamics of Continuity and Change: Shifts in Labour
Relations in the Potosí Mines (1680–1812)." International Review of Social
History 61.S24 (2016): 93-114.
Weaver, Frederick. Latin America in the world economy: mercantile colonialism to global
capitalism. Routledge, 2018.