Since the start of the conflict in the 15th century, Europeans have crossed the Atlantic to conquer almost all of the New World. Between 1810 and 1826, revolutions broke out across Latin America. Several Latin Americans resented the jurisdiction Spain had over its colonies in North and South America. The leaders, Simon Bolivar and Jose de San Martin, were two of the significant Latin American leaders during the attempt for the independence of Spain. These two men derive from a social class known as Creoles, which were born in the Americas yet their ancestors originate from Europe.
Peninsulares, who were Spanish and born in Spain, migrated to the colonies of Creoles, who were Spanish and lived in America, taking over and working in the highest ranked jobs. The peninsulares, as well as the competition of their other social classes, led to the Creoles to strive for independence. The Creoles lead the revolutions in Latin America for three reasons; their fear of social tension, to protect their economic interest, and their social identity. As the colonies became congested with invading social groups longing power, the Creoles feared the unresting social tension.
The Creoles had been so powerless as a result of the peninsulares in power, independence was what they strived for, Leslie Bethell’s article on The Independence of Latin America indicates that “The Creoles were intensely aware of social pressure from below, and they strove to keep the coloured people at a distance” (Doc F). The Creoles were definitely aware of the situation in the colonies. They knew that they would not be the only group of people who would want power over the peninsulares.
There were also the mestizos, mulattos, Africans, and Indians who craved power for hemselves, in which they would have to add to a list of their ongoing conflicts. Not only did the Creoles lead the revolution to gain more political power, but they also rose up to retain the power they already had over the other social classes. In order for their plans to prosper, they could not trust or have anyone intertwined as they made their way to gain independence. A Creole leader, as well as leader of social classes, expresses the frustration of feelings in which led the fight for independence, Father Miguel Hidalgo’s Grito de Dolores conveys, “..
Recover the lands stolen three hundred years from your forefathers by the hated Spaniards… defend your religion and your rights as true patriots. ” (Doc E). These Creoles who marched along with other social classes, wanted a revolution that would act as a display of pride on behalf of their country. The revolution would be necessary to regain the power into the hands of people who were actually born in their country, Latin America. Creoles considered themselves Americanos, not Spaniards, and craved independence from their mother country.
Thus, leading to stand p for what is rightfully theirs and lead the fight for independence. Social tension between the classes was just one of the burdens on their shoulders, they also stressed about the safety of their economic interest. Economic interest was crucial for Creoles under the authority and new system of the Spanish who had taken over their government. Peninsulares were taking basic rights for living away from the Creoles, causing a revolt to gain independence which is expressed in Juan Pablo Viscardo’s Open Letter to America, stating “…
We in America are perhaps the first to be orced by our own government to sell our products at artificially low prices and buy what we need at artificially high prices” (Doc C). Spain imposed taxies, regulated their production, and limited trade in order to control the colonies’ economies a certain way to benefit themselves, not the Creoles. This mercantile system angered Creoles, as they felt that the Spanish had been taking advantage of them and their efforts, preventing them from gaining what they rightfully deserve.
Frustration grew over these economic policies which only made the tension between the two sides grow. This was an act of motivation to Creoles in considering moving away from the colonial rule. Creoles believe that by fighting their way to independence they would finally have an opportunity to become successful. Then, Creoles began to blame the events from the drought on peninsulares, leading them to want to take action as it is described in Alan Knight’s article on Mexico: The Colonial Era, explaining that ” Creole elites, indignant and threatened, now sought to capitalize on these social tensions” (Doc D).
The Creoles were terrified that this depression would leave them powerless, since they had een deprived of their political authority and relied on their influence economically. From the drought, they had already lost their livestock and crops, the food priced tripled, and unemployment rose. With the new system of laws, the Creoles would barely be able to survive and needed to act quickly. They felt as if this were the opportunity to seize back control by taking advantage of this chaotic mess and focus their frustrations on a revolution.
Officers and militia began to hatch a plot that would establish a form of Creole home rule, guiding them back to their independence. Not only were their conomic interests dangered, the emerging national identity will leave the Creoles wishing their independence was not so hard to obtain. The emerging national identity made the Creoles feel that their singularity as a nation was being consumed by peninsulares and incoming invaders.
One of the reasons Creoles were motivated to fight for their independence is located in Howard J. Wiarda and Harvey F. Kline’s article on Latin American Politics and Development in which it is stated, “The Creoles had growing economic and social influence, but the peninsulares monopolized all administrative positions” (Doc B). The second highest class in the New World, The Creoles, was greatly motivated by political power. With a larger percent of Creole population, only 12 were judges and 87 judges were peninsulares. No equality takes place as Creoles only have about 1/7th of the amount of judges the peninsulares hold. Power was present yet limited for Creoles, as the real authority is placed in the hands of the peninsulares.
With these conflicts on the Creoles’ plate, they become greatly infuriated. So naturally, they decide they must handle this situation before they lose everything. They begin to think of “doing away with the inconvenience of Spanish colonialism”, resulting in their fight towards independence. Creoles ultimately wanted their power back for themselves, Simon Bolivar’s address to the Congress of Angostura explains, “We are disputing with the natives for titles of ownership, and at the same time we are struggling to maintain ourselves in the country that gave us birth against the opposition of the invaders” (Doc A).
Creoles were born in, and lived in Latin America. They did not consider themselves Spaniards, but rather Americanos. This dual conflict has the Creoles feeling frustrated over the Spanish also known to be the “invaders”. The difficulty of fighting for their independence while maintaining what is theirs puts them in a complicated position. While they are passing through this time, it is important to keep the Creoles united as one and show their pride, yet become separate and independent from the Spanish.
Wit Although all these social classes, except for the peninsulares, were involved in the struggle to gain independence and power, the Creoles had the leading role in the fight for their freedom. Throughout the series of conflicts they faced, Creoles feared the nresting social tension, protected their economic interest during drought with new laws from the Peninsulares, and wished to restore their national identity.
After all the sabotage caused by the Spanish having the authority to run the government, the Creoles craved independence to regain their deserved rights and power. The determined leaders, Simon Bolivar and Jose de San Martin as well as some influence from Father Miguel Hidalgo, motivated and kept the Creoles feeling united. For these reasons, from 1810 to 1826, the Creoles led the fight for their well-deserved independence.