Why did the Creoles lead

the fight?
Latin American Revolutions
Document A
1. Using the Background Essay as a reminder, which
social class or classes would be “Americans by birth
and Europeans by law”, in Latin America in 1819?
Which social class or classes could not fit into that
category?
1. The Creoles are American by birth, but European by law
2. Peninsulares and Africans would be excluded
Document A
2. What is the “dual conflict” Bolivar describes?
2. They are fighting two fights 1) with the Indians over land 2) with
Spanish invaders
Document A
3. Focusing on the word “we,” which social class do you
think Bolivar means when he says “We are disputing
with the natives for titles of ownership”?
3. “we” likely means the Creoles
4. They are fighting the Peninsulares (natives)
Document A
4. To whom is Bolivar referring when he speaks
of “invaders”?
4. The Spanish
Document A
5. Simon Bolivar uses the words “us” and “we”
repeatedly in this short passage. Why do you
think he does that?
5. Bolivar is trying to create a sense that all
Americans agree with each other. So no matter
what group they are in they have the same enemy
in the Spanish.
Document A
6. How could you use this document to explain
why Creoles led the fight for independence
against Spain?
6. It shows Creole pride and creates a sense that the
Creoles have a Latin American identity independent
of Spain or Europe.
Document B
1. What was the difference between Creoles and
peninsulares?
1. Creole = 100% Spanish blood, but born in the
Americas
2. Peninsulares = Born in Spain
Document B
2. In the rivalry between the Creoles and the
peninsulares, what kind of power did the
Creoles have and what kind of power did the
peninsulares have?
2. Creoles = wealth and social power
3. Peninsulares = political power
Document B
3. How did the Creoles think independence
might change their position?
3. They thought that they would gain political power,
as well. Then they would have all of the wealth,
social power, and political power.
Document B
4. How could you use this document to answer
the question, why did the Creoles lead the
fight for Latin American independence?
4. The Creoles led the fight for political power and to
overthrow the Peninsulares.
Document C
1. Which country is restricting the Americanos’
property rights?
1. Spain
Document C
2. Identify two economic policies that are
making Creoles, like Juan Pablo Viscardo,
angry.
2. Latin Americans have to pay inflated prices for
Spanish goods
3. Latin Americans are forced to sell goods at low
prices
4. Spain decides what the Latin Americans can
produce and sell
Document C
3. Who does Viscardo think should be in charge
of the American economy?
3. Americanos – specifically the Creoles
Document C
4. How could you use this document to respond
to the question, why did the Creoles take the
lead in the fight for independence?
4. The Creoles wanted to protect and expand their
economic interests, because they felt that Spain
was treating them unfairly with her economic
policies.
Document D
1. What two things happened as a result of
drought in Mexico in 1808 – 1809?
1. Livestock died
2. Crops were destroyed
Document D
2. What happened to the unemployment rate as
a result of the drought?
2. Unemployment went up
Document D
3. Why do you think the mule trains that carried
grain would be escorted by the military?
3. There was a shortage of food
4. The military needed to protect the food to make
sure that the military and the other political elites
received the food first
Document D
4. How did Creole elites react to the problem of
the drought?
4. They wanted more economic control from the
Peninsulares, so that they could prevent rebellion
Document D
5. How could you use this document to address
the question, why did the Creoles take the
lead in the fight for independence?
5. They blamed the Peninsulares for mismanaging the
drought. They used this convince other Americanos
that the Creoles could do a better job ruling the
Americas.
Document E
1. What do you see
in the mural
painting by Juan
O’Gorman?
1. Crowds of people
2. Different social
classes
3. Yelling
4. Flags and
banners
5. Fire
6. Cross
 Document E
2. Who is the man
in the middle of
the mural?
2. A Priest = Father
Hidalgo who is
leading the
crowd
 Document E
3. In the passage
from the Grito de
Delores, what is
Father Hidalgo
encouraging?
3. Revolution
against the
Spanish
Document E
4. Which social
class is Hidalgo
challenging?
4. The Peninsulares
Document E
5. Father Hidalgo was
a Creole. Why do
you suppose he got
limited support from
other Creoles?
5. Father Hidalgo was
encouraging a social
revolution not just a
political revolution.
A social revolution
would threaten the
authority of the
Creoles.
Document F
1. What does Bethell mean when he writes, “If
the Creoles had one eye on their masters,
they kept the other on their servants”?
1. They were well aware of their status “in the
middle”. They were worried about those above and
below them.
Document F
2. Which social classes were challenging the
idea of “white superiority”?
2. Indians, Mestizos, Free Blacks, Mulattos, Slaves
Document F
3. What did Creoles think about “coloured
people” or people of Native, African or mixed
ancestry?
3. They wanted to keep them at a distance. Creoles
do not want to share power with “coloured people”
Document F
4. Father Hidalgo led the revolt in Mexico that is
featured in document E. What does
document F suggest about how most Creoles
reacted to that revolt?
4. Creoles were uncomfortable with the revolt,
because they were afraid it would cause social
problems and social revolts.
Document F
5. Why could the Creoles no longer count on the
Spanish government to control social unrest
after 1808?
5. Span was pre-occupied with Napoleon’s invasion of
Spain and could not focus on the colonies.
Document F
6. How could you use this document to answer
the question, why did the Creoles take the
lead in the fight for independence?
6. Creoles needed to take control of the political and
social structure of the Americas and could no
longer rely on the Peninsulares to control the social
situation.