Western History 159: What was the end result of the Latin American Wars of Independence?

The formalized drive by the South American and Central American states to win independence from their Spanish and Portuguese overlords began in 1806 with the failed attempt by Francisco de Miranda to forge an independent Venezuela. The impetus for the independence was accelerated by the problems that the Iberian powers (Spain and Portugal) faced on their home soil as a consequence of the turmoil of the Napoleonic Wars. Miguel Hidalgo y Castilla – the future Father of the Mexican nation – also made an attempt to win Independence in 1811 but was unsuccessful. 

In 1813, Simón Bolívar  put together an army to free Venezuela and soon entered Caracas in triumph. He established a Republic that was short-lived before bring forced to flee. Soon afterwards Bolivar would conquer Bogotá (the modern day capital of Colombia). However the Spaniards would fight back against revolutionary sentiments that were springing up around the continent and would for a  few more years take control of all of their former territory, other than the region around the Rio de Plata (modern day Argentina).

Simon Bolivar (1783-1830) source: aa.com.tr

It was here that the War for South American Independence was taken a step further up José de San Martín who secured a victory over Royalist forces at the Battle of Chacabuco in 1817 thereby winning  control of the Chilean city of Santiago. At the battle of Maipú in 1818 he would gain independence for Chile. He would later achieve Independence for both Argentina and Peru as well.

José de San Martín (1778-1850)  source: biography.com

Bolivar in the north though continued to struggle but failed to retake Caracas. However he would go on to defeat the Royalists at the Battle of Boyacá in 1819 eventually liberating New Granada, the territory making up the Northern portion of South America). A new state Gran Colombia was formed in that year with Bolivar as its President. Another win at Carabobo guaranteed Venezuelan Independence by 1821. In the same year Spain recognized the Independence of Mexico.

The Independence momentum picked up more steam. The United States recognized the newly formed South American countries and guaranteed their integrity from foreign interference in what would later become known as the Monroe Doctrine. In 1822 the Spanish suffered a further defeat at Pitchincha with Antonio José de Sucre y Alcalá  (a close friend of Bolivar) emerging as yet another a hero of the Independence struggle.

Antonio José de Sucre y Alcalá source: edukalife.blospot.com

Soon afterwards Ecuador would join the Gran Colombia. Later on  Agustín de Arámburu would be proclaimed as Emperor of Mexico (Agustin I). He would step down after a liberal riot forced his abdication. Mexico would become a Federal Republic in 1824.

The Spanish did try and reclaim lost territory but  their efforts were frustrated by a defeat in Mexico at the Battle of Tampico (1829).

By 1833 the Independence Wars were over. Spanish controlled Latin America (with the sole exception of the islands of Cuba and Puerto Rico) was free from the European yoke. However Ecuador and Venezuela had three years earlier split off from Gran Colombia to form separate nations. Ironically Sucre (who was assassinated) and Bolivar (who succumbed to liver disease) would not live to see much of the early developments of these new states. Although the legacy of each man would live on  in the name of the country Bolivia with its constitutional capital Sucre. Both men are considered icons in South American history together with San Martin.

In Portuguese controlled Brazil there was a similar struggle that saw Peter I (the son of the Portuguese king) declare independence from Portugal in 1822.He would be crowned as Emperor Dom Pedro I of Brazil. A successful war for Brazilian Independence raged between 1822 and 1825. A Constitution was adopted in 1824 although Uruguay would break away from the Empire of Brazil in 1825.

South and Central America before and after independence source: https://www.freeman-pedia.com/latin-american-independence

In retrospect the Independence movements  were largely Liberal inspired revolutions that were energized by the writings of the same philosophers (Montesquieu, Rousseau etc) who had inspired the French revolution. In many cases they brought with them much needed reform although in many states they replaced one landed class with another. 

The legacy of monarchy still refused (as was the case in Brazil) to recede into the background in the immediate although in time liberal revolts would carry the day here as well. What the Independence Wars did deliver were several nation states that largely define the South American geopolitical framework today, shifting more of a locus of power westward especially under guarantee from an emerging United Sates. For Spain and Portugal the loss of territory further emphasized the decline that had characterized each of these countries since the 17^th century