World historyLesson 3 of 3 in the course Revolutions in Latin America

Spanish South American Independence: Campaigns, Government, and Legacies

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

This lesson introduces the causes and early course of revolution in northern South America, especially Venezuela. It explains why creole elites sought greater autonomy and why independence became a contested struggle rather than a unified movement.

Creoles—people of European descent born in the Americas—often held wealth and local influence but were excluded from the highest colonial offices, which were commonly reserved for peninsulares, people born in Spain. Many creoles wanted free trade, control over tax revenue, and greater authority over local government. The wider political upheaval following Napoleon’s invasion of Spain also raised questions about who had legitimate authority while the Spanish king Fernando VII was imprisoned.

All flashcards

Who were creoles?
Creoles were people of European descent born in the Americas. Many held wealth and local influence but were excluded from the highest colonial offices.
What did the Caracas junta do?
Formed in 1810 after Spanish officials were removed, the junta governed locally while initially claiming to act in Fernando VII’s name.
Why did many creoles favor independence?
They wanted freer trade, control over local tax revenue, and authority over their own government.
What happened on July 5, 1811?
Patriot members of the Venezuelan congress declared independence, making Venezuela the first South American republic.
Why did the northern independence struggle become a civil war?
Patriots and royalists competed for power amid conflicting social interests and regional opposition to Caracas’s authority.

Quiz questions

  1. What condition accompanied Haiti’s assistance to Bolívar’s independence campaign?Answer: He was expected to work toward ending slavery in the newly independent lands.
  2. What form of government did the 1821 Cúcuta constitution establish for Gran Colombia?Answer: A centralized republic with a liberal reform program.
  3. What was the significance of Sucre’s victory at Ayacucho in 1824?Answer: It broke the main royalist military power in South America.
  4. What did Peruvian creoles in Lima do on July 28, 1821?Answer: They declared independence and accepted San Martín as Protector of Peru.
  5. What was the main aim of Bolívar’s Congress of Panama in 1826?Answer: To encourage cooperation and a lasting alliance among independent states.

Based on World History Volume 2, from 1400 by Ann Kordas, Ryan J. Lynch, Brooke Nelson, Julie Tatlock (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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