INDEPENDENCIAS de AMÉRICA 1 🌎 Independencia de Quito, Venezuela, Colombia, Paraguay y Argentina

The Haitian Revolution and Its Impact on Latin American Independence

Overview of the Haitian Revolution

• The narrative begins between 1808 and 1816, focusing on the early independence movements in America, starting with the Haitian Revolution.

• Haiti was the second nation in the Americas to gain independence after the United States, previously a wealthy French colony known for sugar, coffee, and cacao production using enslaved labor.

Social Dynamics Leading to Revolt

• In 1791, Haiti had approximately 500,000 enslaved individuals compared to only 30,000 free colonists. The news of the French Revolution inspired hopes for new rights among various social groups.

• A wealthy mulatto named Vincent Oge led an uprising against colonial rule but was executed alongside other leaders like Vodou priest Dutty Boukman.

Key Figures and Events in the Revolution

• Enslaved people eventually revolted under leader François Toussaint Louverture (L'Ouverture), who sought freedom without revenge against whites.

• After significant victories against French forces, including proclaiming himself governor general of Saint-Domingue in 1801, Toussaint faced challenges from Napoleon's ambitions to reclaim Haiti.

Outcomes of Leadership Changes

• Following Toussaint's surrender and imprisonment by French forces where he died a year later, Jean-Jacques Dessalines took over leadership.

• Dessalines defeated Napoleonic troops in 1804 and declared Haiti's first empire but ruled as a despot until his assassination two years later.

Division of Haiti and Subsequent Developments

• Post-assassination, Haiti split into a northern kingdom led by Henri Christophe and a southern republic under Alexandre Pétion.

• By 1822, Jean-Pierre Boyer unified Hispaniola under Haitian control but imposed harsh measures leading to resentment among Dominicans until their eventual independence in 1844.

Broader Context of Latin American Independence Movements

• The Haitian Revolution was unique as it involved enslaved individuals rising against their oppressors; most other Latin American revolutions were driven by Creoles seeking political power rather than liberation from oppression.

• Unlike Haiti’s revolt initiated by slaves, many uprisings across Spanish America were led by wealthy Creoles frustrated with limited political power due to distant royal authority.

Conclusion: Implications for Future Revolutions

Independence Movements in Hispano-America

Emergence of Independence Ideas

• The denial of certain rights led to the rise of voices advocating for independence or emancipation, influenced by examples from the United States and Haiti.

• Enlightenment ideals of liberty and equality gained traction through literature, newspapers, universities, and social gatherings like salons and cafés.

• The influence of secret societies such as Freemasonry is noted, with figures like Francisco de Miranda playing a significant role in spreading these ideas.

Key Figures and Their Influence

• Francisco de Miranda, a military figure from Caracas involved in various revolutions, is recognized as a key proponent of independence in Hispano-America.

• Despite his attempts to seize power in Venezuela being unsuccessful due to lack of popular support, he laid groundwork for future leaders like Simón Bolívar.

Enlightenment Thought: Dual Nature

• While Enlightenment thought brought positive societal changes, it also introduced negative aspects such as scientific racism that demeaned indigenous populations.

• Jesuits defended the rights of New World inhabitants and contributed to growing patriotism during the Habsburg era when local governance was relatively decentralized.

Political Turmoil in Spain

• The Bourbon monarchy's attempts at centralization faced resistance; Carlos IV's reign was marked by corruption under Manuel Godoy’s leadership.

• Spain's involvement in wars against England led to significant losses including its fleet at Trafalgar (1805), crippling trade with America.

Napoleonic Influence on Spanish Governance

• Godoy allowed French troops through Spain to attack Portugal; this decision had far-reaching consequences for Spanish sovereignty.

• The abdication crisis following public discontent culminated in uprisings against Godoy’s policies leading to Carlos IV’s abdication.

Formation of Provisional Governments

• In May 1808, significant events unfolded with the Bayonne abdications where both Carlos IV and Fernando VII were imprisoned by Napoleon.

• This vacuum led to the establishment of provisional juntas across Spain resisting French rule while seeking governance until Fernando VII could return.

Constitutional Developments

• Following initial chaos, a central governing body known as the Junta Central Suprema was formed but later dissolved before elections could occur.

• In 1810, Cádiz became pivotal as it hosted constituent cortes aiming to draft a new constitution amidst ongoing conflict.

The Abdication of the King of Spain and Its Consequences

Confusion in Authority

• News about the abdication of the King of Spain arrived slowly, often causing confusion regarding who held power in Spain and whom to obey.

• The virreinal authorities were weakened and discredited, lacking authority unless they recognized José Bonaparte's new government.

• The criollo oligarchy gained social and political strength, leading to the formation of juntas composed of representatives from major institutions.

Formation of Juntas

• These juntas convened in town halls controlled by criollos while peninsular power resided in royal audiences.

• Initially, these assemblies maintained a balance between Americans, Spanish peninsulares, and royal officials but soon sought reforms for greater political participation.

Military Organization and Distrust

• Criollos aimed to organize military forces against a potential French invasion; however, Virrey Antonio José Amar y Borbón opposed this initiative.

• Distrust existed between criollos and peninsulares; criollos feared betrayal to Napoleon while peninsulares suspected independence motives behind junta proposals.

Early Movements Towards Independence

Conjuration in Caracas

• In November 1808, the "conjuration of mantuanos" occurred in Caracas where Venezuelan criollos attempted to form an autonomous government but were arrested by Captain General Juan de Casas.

• On August 10, 1809, Ecuador saw its first autonomous government formed with Juan Pío de Montúfar as leader after a revolt against Manuel Ruiz Urries de Castilla.

First Cry for Independence

• This event marked the beginning of the emancipation process known as the "first cry for Hispanic American independence."

• Despite initial successes, realista forces quickly surrounded Quito leading to arrests among rebels.

Escalation of Conflict

Revolts in Lima and Caracas

• A well-organized mob attacked prisons in Quito on August 2, 1810, attempting to free imprisoned rebels which resulted in significant casualties.

• On April 19, 1810, a revolution erupted against Captain General Vicente en Paran in Caracas leading to the establishment of a Supreme Junta favoring Fernando VII.

Establishment of Venezuela's First Republic

• In March 1811, Venezuela created its first national congress which declared independence on July 5th that year.

• This republic lasted just over a year with notable leaders including Cristóbal Mendoza and Francisco Miranda before facing counteroffensives from royalist forces.

Key Incidents Leading Up to Independence

Conspiracy Against Virreinato

• In Santa Fe de Bogotá during 1809, priest Andrés Rosillo protested against virreinato governance but was arrested.

Incident at Florero de Llorente

• The incident on July 20th involved a dispute over a flower vase between Spanish merchant José González Llorente and Luis de Rubio igniting public outrage against Spaniards (chapetones).

Planned Provocation by Criollos

Creation of the Junta and Its Aftermath

Initial Demands and Reactions

• Joaquín Camacho and others requested the creation of a junta from Viceroy Amar y Borbón, who refused. Rumors suggested he intended to detain Villavicencio.

• The incident sparked significant public unrest, leading to the eventual establishment of a junta despite ongoing suspicions about its legitimacy.

Fragmentation of Power

• Multiple juntas emerged in various cities, each declaring independence, resulting in fragmentation and military conflicts among independentist factions.

• While some regions like Santa Marta remained loyal to Spain, others sought autonomy from Bogotá, creating divisions within the independence movement.

Establishment of Quito's Government

• In Quito, a second junta was formed (1810-1811), initially led by Ruiz de Castilla and later by Carlos de Montúfar. This raised concerns among Spanish authorities regarding Montúfar's growing influence.

• Quito declared independence from Spain and established itself as a state with José de Cuero as president; however, it faced resistance from other territories unwilling to join.

Internal Conflicts and Military Struggles

• The new state enacted its first constitution establishing a republic but soon faced military opposition from royalist forces led by Toribio Montes.

• Francisco Javier Venegas became the new viceroy but was quickly replaced; internal strife weakened Quito’s position against royalist forces.

Rise of "La Patria Boba"

• In 1811, two rival republics emerged: Provincias Unidas de la Nueva Granada (led by Camilo Torres Tenorio) and Estado Libre de Cundinamarca (led by Antonio Nariño).

• Each province pursued its own autonomy leading to chaos; federalists wanted complete independence while centralists aimed for more autonomy under Spanish governance.

Civil War Among Independents

• A civil war erupted between December 1812 and December 1814 due to accusations against Nariño of dictatorship. He defeated federalists at San Victorino in 1813.

• As Bogotá fell under Nariño's control, royalist loyalty persisted in areas like Pasto and Popayán, complicating the struggle for independence.

Key Figures in Resistance

• Policarp Salavarrieta ("La Pola") acted as a spy for patriots during this tumultuous period while Quito maintained its brief independence before facing renewed attacks.

Decline of Independence Movements

• The royalist army captured key leaders like Carlos de Montúfar during battles such as Ibarra in 1812, effectively ending the rebellion in Quito.

Transitioning Leadership Amidst Crisis

• Following these events, Toribio Montes resumed leadership over the Real Audiencia with harsh reprisals against patriots.

Constitución de Cádiz y sus Consecuencias

La Constitución de Cádiz: Un Hito Liberal

• La Constitución de Cádiz fue redactada por diputados españoles, americanos y filipinos, marcando un hito como la primera Constitución de España y una de las más liberales de su época.

• En su primer artículo, se reconocía a la nación española como la unión de todos los españoles en ambos hemisferios, considerando a todos los habitantes del imperio como ciudadanos españoles.

• Se estableció la soberanía nacional en lugar de la del rey; aunque el sistema era una monarquía constitucional, había separación de poderes entre las Cortes y el rey con poderes limitados.

• La Constitución también garantizaba libertad de imprenta y sufragio universal masculino.

El Regreso al Absolutismo

• Tras firmar el tratado de Valençay con Napoleón, Fernando VII fue restaurado como rey y derogó la Constitución de Cádiz, regresando al absolutismo monárquico.

• Esta acción provocó descontento entre muchos diputados e intelectuales tanto españoles como americanos, dando inicio al período conocido como El sexenio absolutista.

Contexto en Río de la Plata

• En 1808, tras la conquista napoleónica, llegó un enviado francés a Buenos Aires para que el virrey Santiago Del Liniers reconociera a José Bonaparte como rey.

• A pesar del rechazo inicial por parte de la junta local, surgieron rumores sobre Liniers colaborando con los franceses lo que generó tensiones en las calles.

Revoluciones en Alto Perú

• En enero de 1809 ocurrió un intento fallido por destituir a Liniers liderado por Martín Alzaga; sin embargo, los criollos aseguraron su continuidad temporalmente.

• La Junta Suprema Central depuso a Liniers debido a sospechas sobre su lealtad hacia Francia y nombró a Baltasar Hidalgo de Cisneros como nuevo virrey.

Movimientos Independentistas

• En mayo de 1809 se produjo la revolución en Chuquisaca contra Ramón García Pizarro debido a temores sobre posibles anexiones territoriales.

• El 18 de mayo de 1810 tuvo lugar la revolución en Buenos Aires donde Juan José Castelli y otros exigieron un Cabildo abierto para decidir el futuro del gobierno regional.

The Formation of the Junta Grande and Its Impact

Key Figures in the Junta Grande

• The Junta Grande emerged after the resignation of the viceroy, with military leader Cornelio Saavedra as president. Other notable figures included Manuel Belgrano, a well-prepared criollo leader, young lawyer Mariano Moreno, and Juan José Castelli.

• Belgrano was known for his admiration of Adam Smith and Enlightenment ideas. He established several schools, including those for navigation and geography, and founded Buenos Aires' first newspaper, El Telégrafo Mercantil.

Actions Taken by the Junta Grande

• The Junta broke ties with Spanish regency by expelling Spanish officials and creating a Security Tribunal to pursue subversives. It also founded the United Provinces of Río de la Plata, uniting territories that now include Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Bolivia.

• Although independence was not formally declared by this junta, provincial juntas were created to involve local populations in governance despite many aligning with royalist factions.

Internal Conflicts and Civil War

• The freedom of commerce favored Buenos Aires but harmed interior provinces reliant on Spanish protectionism. This led to a civil war lasting over ten years as Buenos Aires sought control over its former viceroyalty.

• Tensions arose between moderate representatives from provinces and radical revolutionaries like Moreno and Castelli who pursued aggressive actions against Spaniards.

Military Campaigns in Upper Peru

• Patriots sent troops led by Castelli to Upper Peru (Bolivia), achieving victory at Suipacha but resorting to looting and executing captured royalists without trial.

• Their success was short-lived; they faced defeat at Waki due to reinforcements from Peru under Spanish commander Lgoyeneche.

Struggles in Paraguay

• Belgrano's attempts to conquer Paraguay failed at Tacuarí in 1811. This prompted local leaders like Bernardo Velasco to seek Brazilian assistance against Buenos Aires.

Independence Movements Across Regions

Establishment of Paraguayan Independence

• On May 14, 1811, Asunción declared independence from both Spain and Buenos Aires following a criollo revolution led by José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia.

• Francia became dictator post-independence, initiating repressive measures against Spaniards and local elites until his death in 1840.

Fragmentation of Former Viceroyalty Territories

• The United Provinces never fully controlled their former viceroyalty territory; soon after independence movements resulted in separate nations: Paraguay (1813), Bolivia (1825), Uruguay (1828), leading eventually to the Argentine Confederation (1831).

Conflict Between Revolutionary Forces

Attack on Buenos Aires

• Santiago de Liniers launched an attack on revolutionary forces from Córdoba del Tucumán but was captured and executed in August 1810.

New Leadership Dynamics

• Francisco Javier de Elio was appointed virrey but remained based in Montevideo due to lack of recognition from Buenos Aires authorities. His request for Brazilian support further alienated him from local criollos.

Revolutionary Developments

Éxodo Oriental y la Revolución de 1811

Contexto del Éxodo Oriental

• Se menciona el Éxodo Oriental, una emigración masiva de aproximadamente 16,000 personas que siguieron a Artigas hacia El Salto Chico del río Uruguay para escapar de los ejércitos portugueses invasores.

La Revolución de Abril de 1811

• En abril de 1811, el presidente de la Junta Grande, Saavedra, ordenó eliminar a los partidarios radicales liderados por Mariano Moreno, lo que llevó a un levantamiento en su contra.

Disolución de la Junta Grande

• En septiembre de 1811, un golpe de estado derrocó a la Junta Grande; el sector radical, ahora bajo Bernardino Rivadavia, formó el primer triunvirato centralista.

Medidas del Primer Triunvirato

• Este triunvirato declaró la libertad de prensa y prohibió la introducción de esclavos en el territorio. Sin embargo, se generó descontento entre la población debido al radicalismo y las medidas centralistas.

Motín de las Trenzas

• En diciembre de 1811, ocurrió el motín conocido como "motín de las trenzas", donde soldados se negaron a acatar órdenes del triunvirato. Aunque fracasaron, esto evidenció el creciente descontento militar.

Llegada y Contribuciones de José de San Martín

Ingreso a Buenos Aires

• En 1812, José de San Martín llegó a Buenos Aires desde Europa; fue encargado por el triunvirato para crear un cuerpo militar élite llamado los Granaderos a Caballo.

Fundación de la Logia Lautaro

• Junto con Carlos Alvear y otros militares, San Martín fundó la Logia Lautaro con el objetivo principal: independizar los estados americanos e impulsar ideologías liberales.

Revolución y Cambio Político

Ocupación Plaza Mayo

• La Logia Lautaro planeó un golpe conocido como la revolución del octubre de 1812, ocupando Plaza Mayo en respuesta al autoritarismo impopular del gobierno actual.

Fin del Primer Triunvirato

• Este levantamiento resultó en el fin del primer triunvirato y dio paso al segundo triunvirato, que actuaba bajo influencia directa de los ideales promovidos por la Logia Lautaro.

Desafíos Internos y Conflictos Regionales

Asamblea General Constituyente

• A principios de 1813, se convocó una asamblea constituyente; sin embargo, no se logró redactar una constitución debido a divisiones internas entre centralistas porteños y federalistas provincianos.

Liga Federal

• Las provincias formaron una liga federal nombrando a Artigas como protector frente al centralismo porteño. Esto intensificó las tensiones políticas en Buenos Aires.

Guerra Gaucha y Resistencia Local

Campañas Militares

• Manuel Belgrano logró detener tropas realistas en Tucumán pero sufrió derrotas posteriores que afectaron gravemente sus campañas militares en Alto Perú durante 1813.

Guerra Gaucha

History of the Independence Movements in the Río de la Plata

Early Military Engagements and Key Figures

• The cavalry captured a warship, later participating in the Northern Army during independence movements. A captain's decisive role was noted in the Battle of Suipacha, leading a guerrilla group known as "Los Infernales" due to their red ponchos.

• Captain General Gaspar de Vigodet is recognized as the last Spanish ruler of the Río de la Plata. He resisted a 20-month siege of Montevideo until it fell to Buenos Aires in June 1814, marking a significant shift in power.

• In 1814, a patriot fleet led by Irishman Guillermo Brown defeated the Spanish fleet at Martín García, effectively ending Spanish control over the region and transitioning into what became known as the United Provinces of Río de la Plata.

Challenges and Setbacks

• Despite declaring themselves united provinces, internal conflicts arose with José Rondeau's failed campaign in Alto Perú after his defeat at Shipesipe in 1815, losing access to rich mining areas.

• Artigas convened Congress of Oriente in 1815 aiming for independence but faced invasion from Portuguese troops. After being defeated by Brazilian forces at Tacuarembó in 1820, Uruguay was annexed by Portugal and Brazil for eight years.

Formal Declaration and Internal Conflicts

• The formal declaration of independence for Río de la Plata occurred on July 9, 1816, during the Congress of Tucumán under Juan Martín de Pueyrredón’s leadership proposed by San Martín.

• The newly formed United Provinces faced civil wars between unitarians and federalists. The governing directory adopted authoritarian measures including strict fiscal policies and mandatory military conscription aimed at conquering Chile and Peru.

Conclusion