Topic 2 – Session 7 – Big Civilization

Spain’s colonists directly experienced the deficiencies of Spanish rule. The Napoleonic Wars had confirmed that the Spanish government was not capable of remaining one of the great powers of Europe, much less capable of proper governing the vast empire in the Americas. New revolutionary ideas derived from the revolutions of the United States and of France added to the movement toward independence.

Simon Bolivar led the rebellions of the colonies in Spanish South America. Further north in Mexico, other rebel leaders emerged. Unlike the American Revolution, these wars were separate but related rebellions which led to separate, independent countries.

This first wave of decolonization affected two continents – a very large area to break away from Europe’s dominance, indeed.

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Further Information

From History Moments Library

YEAR	TITLE	AUTHOR(s)
1791	Revolution in Haiti	Charles Wyllys Elliott
1809	Bolivar and South American Independence	Alfred Deberle
1810	Mexican Independence	Joel R. Poinsett
1822	Brazil Becomes Independent	|Daniel P. Kidder
YEAR	TITLE	AUTHOR(s)

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Spanish American Administration Latin American Revolutions Mexican Revolution Simón Bolívar

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