Latin American Revolutions: Crash Course World History #31

CrashCourse
23 Aug 201213:43
EducationalLearning
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TLDRThis Crash Course World History video examines the complex Latin American independence movements in the early 19th century. It notes Latin America's diversity and how revolutions weren't always truly revolutionary, instead maintaining rigid hierarchies. The script explores various influences like colonial powers, the Catholic Church, and patriarchy. It chronicles independence wars across regions, the roles key figures like Simón Bolívar played, and complications like class divides. Despite gaining autonomy, Latin American society saw continuity of social stratification, church power, and gender inequality after independence.

Takeaways
  • 😀 Latin American society before independence characterized by control of Spanish crown, Catholic church & patriarchy
  • 👑 Brazil achieved independence from Portugal with little bloodshed by getting King João's son Pedro to declare himself emperor
  • 😡 Napoleon complicated Latin American independence by invading Iberian peninsula & putting his brother on Spanish throne
  • 💂‍♂️ Mexican war for independence featured tensions between elite Creoles and mixed-race peasants
  • 🚩 Simon Bolívar helped unify revolutionaries across racial & class lines to fight for South American identity & independence
  • 🎖 José de San Martín also key to defeating Spanish forces, especially in Chile & Peru
  • 🎉 By 1825 almost all of Latin America was free from European control, a remarkable achievement
  • 🔔 New Latin American states quickly developed distinct national identities
  • 👵🏻 Patriarchy & the Catholic Church remained powerful forces in people's everyday lives after independence
  • ⚔️ Wars for independence were bloody - 425,000 died in Mexico alone, and instability persisted for decades
Q & A

  • What were the three main institutions that exercised control over the population in Latin America before independence?

    -The three main controlling institutions were the Spanish/Portuguese Crown that taxed goods, the Catholic Church that regulated daily life and timekeeping, and the patriarchy that gave husbands control over wives.

  • How did Latin America lead the world in transculturation?

    -Latin America developed a distinct culture that blended influences from whites from Spain, whites born in the Americas, Native Americans, and African slaves. This blending was seen in art, food, music, fashion, and the incorporation of native and African influences into Christianity.

  • Why did Brazilian elites want independence from Portugal?

    -Brazilian elites or creoles wanted independence to expand their own power and autonomy relative to the elites born in Portugal. They formed the Brazilian Party to advocate for this.

  • How did Napoleon affect the start of Mexico's independence movement?

    -When Napoleon put his brother on the Spanish throne in 1808, it angered the Peninsular ruling elite in Mexico who wanted divine right monarchy. This led the Mexican creoles to affirm loyalty to the new French king as an opportunity to expand their own power.

  • Why did Simon Bolivar argue for appealing to a sense of South American identity?

    -Bolivar realized that to overcome the class divisions between groups like creoles and mixed-race cowboys, he had to emphasize their common identity of all being from South America itself, not Spain.

  • What territory in the Americas achieved independence by 1825?

    -By 1825, almost all the Western Hemisphere from southern South America to Mexico was free from European control, except the Caribbean and Canada.

  • In what ways were the independence movements not very revolutionary socially?

    -The rigid hierarchies with wealthy creoles at the top remained, the Catholic Church kept significant authority, and patriarchy and lack of rights for women persisted across Latin America.

  • Why does the video host say Latin America seemed modern despite lack of social change after independence?

    -The division into distinct nation-states and the diversity of blended populations made Latin America seem modern, even though hierarchies and inequality persisted.

  • What were some notable female figures in the Latin American independence movements?

    -Some key women were Juana Azurduy who led cavalry charges in Bolivia and Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz, a scholar and poet who critiqued patriarchy in 17th century Mexico.

  • How does the video summarize the ambiguity of concepts like freedom and revolution?

    -The host notes that while independence leaders fought for "freedom," the result was not always free societies, as military dictatorships often continued denying rights and egalitarian governance even after independence.

Outlines
00:00
😃 History of Latin American Independence Movements

Paragraph 1 provides an introductory overview of Latin American independence, noting the region's size and diversity, as well as complications from Napoleon's influence. It also mentions the limited revolutionary nature of some movements that maintained elite power structures. The paragraph then outlines three institutions that dominated pre-independence society: the Spanish crown, the Catholic church, and patriarchy.

05:03
🙂 Brazilian Independence Through Royal Family Relocation

Paragraph 2 discusses Brazilian independence, which occurred without violence when the Portuguese royal family relocated to Brazil during Napoleon's conquest of Portugal. Even after Napoleon's defeat, the royals stayed in Brazil. Ultimately, the left behind Prince Pedro declared Brazil an independent constitutional monarchy when prompted to return to Portugal.

10:05
😊 Simon Bolivar United Different Classes Towards Independence

Paragraph 3 focuses on Simon Bolivar, who realized appealing to a common South American identity could overcome class divisions between groups like Creoles and mixed-race cowboys. By earning the support of such grassroots fighters, Bolivar was instrumental in defeating the Spanish across South America.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Peninsulares
Peninsulares refers to the Spanish-born elite who ruled Latin America during the colonial period. They were at the top of the rigid racial/social hierarchy and were the targets of resentment from Creoles who sought more power.
💡Creoles
Creoles refers to American-born descendants of Spanish settlers in Latin America. They occupied the next level of privilege below Peninsulares in the racial/social hierarchy and led movements for independence to overturn that hierarchy.
💡Mestizos
Mestizos were people of mixed European and indigenous American ancestry. Though instrumental in independence struggles, mestizo leaders failed to gain Creole support and their revolts were defeated.
💡Transculturation
Transculturation refers to the cultural blending between indigenous, African, and European traditions that produced the distinct hybrid culture of Latin America.
💡Simon Bolivar
Simon Bolivar, known as 'El Libertador', was the Creole revolutionary leader who realized that appealing to a common South American identity was the only way to overcome racial divisions and defeat the Spanish across northern South America.
💡Royal fifth
The royal fifth was a 20% tax on everything collected by Spanish administrators to produce revenue from the colonies.
💡Padre Hidalgo
Padre Hidalgo was a priest who led an early peasant revolt against Spanish rule in Mexico, which initially received Creole support.
💡Jose de San Martin
Jose de San Martin was an Argentine general vital to the defeat of Spanish forces in southern South America, along with Simon Bolivar in the north.
💡Popular sovereignty
The idea of popular sovereignty, that governmental authority stems from the people rather than a divine right to rule, was upheld as a core principle in newly independent Latin American states.
💡Patriarchy
Patriarchy and suppressive social norms limiting women's rights remained firmly entrenched in post-independence Latin America, despite some women participating as fighters.
Highlights

Latin America was characterized by 3 institutions that exercised control: the Spanish Crown, the Catholic Church, and patriarchy

Latin America led the world in transculturation, or cultural blending of whites, natives, Africans, leading to a distinct culture

Latin America had great racial diversity and a rigid hierarchy: white, black, mestizo, mulatto

Revolutions began when Napoleon put his brother on the Spanish throne, angering elites who wanted divine right monarchy

Independence alliance between elites and military would reoccur in Latin America, preventing economic justice

Simon Bolivar appealed to common South American identity to overcome class divisions

After 300 years of European rule, Latin American independence movements enshrined popular sovereignty

Division into states showed Latin Americans saw themselves as distinct nations

Latin America presages modern multiculturalism with its racial blending

Social hierarchy remained rigid after independence with elites on top

Catholic church kept powerful role in daily life unlike Western revolutions

Patriarchy also remained strong, with no voting rights for women until the 1950s

425,000 died in Mexico's war for independence showing high cost

Fighting for freedom doesn't always achieve it, with many later dictatorships

"Revolution" had different meanings to different groups of people

Transcripts

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