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The Colonial Roots of Latin American Independence

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Latin America between Colony and Nation

Part of the book series: Studies of the Americas ((ILAS))

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Abstract

The Napoleonic invasion of Portugal and Spain in 1807 to 1808 destroyed the unity of the Iberian world and scattered its rulers. The flight of the Braganzas and the fall of the Bourbons left government in disarray. Once the metropolis had lost its authority, who ruled in America? And who should be obeyed? As legitimacy and loyalty were disputed, argument gave way to violence, and resistance escalated into revolution. But if the War of Independence was sudden and apparently unplanned, it had a long prehistory, during which colonial economies underwent growth, societies developed identity, and ideas advanced to new positions. Demands were now made for autonomy in government and a free economy. The Portuguese court met these expectations by adopting them; moving temporarily to Brazil, the monarchy itself led the colony peacefully into Independence with its own crown and a minimum of social change. Spain, on the other hand, fought fiercely for its freedom in Europe and for its empire in America. Spanish American Independence recoiled, regrouped and struck back on two fronts. The southern revolution advanced across the pampas from Buenos Aires and was carried by the Army of the Andes under José de San Martín to Chile and beyond; the northern revolution, more closely monitored by Spain, was led by Simón Bolívar from Venezuela to New Granada, back to its birthplace and on to Quito and Guayaquil.

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Notes

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of London, UK

    John Lynch (Emeritus Professor of Latin American History)

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  1. John Lynch
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© 2001 Institute of Latin American Studies

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Lynch, J. (2001). The Colonial Roots of Latin American Independence. In: Latin America between Colony and Nation. Studies of the Americas. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230511729_5

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