How Liberalism in Europe Caused Revolution in Latin America
by The acquisition of empires in Latin America had given Spain and Portugal the status of great powers during the 16th century. However, both countries were in decline from the 17th century their places as great powers eventually taken over by Britain and France. Both countries had retained their empires in Latin America although their power and control were declining.
Despite the Spanish Revolution, Spanish control of its Latin American colonies did not evaporate overnight just as it had not done after the French invasion of Spain. Bolivar did enjoy rapid success in New Granada and Venezuela that then formed the Republic of Colombia. Bolivar was in fact made the first President of Colombia. The Colombian constitution did have liberal aspects such as allowing the children of African slaves their freedom. Meanwhile the remaining Spanish forces in Peru and modern day Bolivia were not defeated until the end of 1824. Perhaps the liberalism that reinforced the anti colonial movements also inspired the Spanish to fight better but they must have known that they would lose all their Latin American colonies in the end (Bakewell, 1997, pp.369-70).
Bibliography
Bakewell, P (1997) A History of Latin America, Blackwell Publishers Ltd, Oxford
Crystal, D (2003) The Penguin Concise Encyclopedia, Penguin Group, London
Harvey, R (2000) Liberators – Latin America’s struggle for Independence 1810-1830, John Murray, London
Hobsbawm E (1962) the Age of Revolution 1789-1848, Weidenfeld and Nicholson, London
Roberts J M (1996) A History of Europe, Penguin Books, London
Williamson, E (1992) The Penguin History of Latin America, Penguin Books, London
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