History of Latin America

Paper Summary:

This paper gives a brief yet concise history of the independence period in Latin America. This era took place in the early 19th century and was characterized by countries seeking independence from the colonial rule of Spain and Portugal. The role of the Napoleonic Wars in Europe and the American War of Independence are considered as possible influences for the Latin American quest for independence. The role of Simon Bolivar, a Latin American fighter and revolutionary, is also considered.

From the Paper:

"Throughout its history, Latin America was fraught with violence and bloodshed. Whether it was the invasions with the Toltec in Mexico in 950-1150 Common Era (CE), the defeat of Chimu by Tupca Inca in Chile in 1476 CE or Tenochtitlan falling to the Spaniards and their Indian allies in 1521 (Baker 1998) , the landscape from the American continent to the Caribbean islands was forged with fire and the blood of both natives and conquerors. But the revolution discussed herein is the one or those that happened from 1800 to 1830 wherein the fundamental structure of Latin American countries changed and spelled "the beginning of the end of the Iberian Colonial powers in Ibero-America." As discuss by Baker, the period is known as Independence Period wherein, like falling dominos, colonized countries from Haiti, Paraguay, and Venezuela to Chile, Argentina, etc. revolted against their masters and declared Free states. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Becker, Marc, Latin American Chronology, Illinois State University: July 1998, http://www.ilstu.edu/class/hist127/chron.html (Internet, accessed April 11, 2006).
• Biblioteca Virtual de Simon Bolivar. El Libertador (2006). http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/7609/eng/bio.html (Internet, accessed April 11, 2006).
• Hassaurek, F. How to Conduct a Latin American Revolution (1865), http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1865hassaurek.html (Internet, accessed April 11, 2006).
• Hensel, Silke. "Was There an Age of Revolution in Latin America? New Literature on Latin American Independence." Latin American Research Review, Vol. 38, No. 3, The University of Texas Pres, October 2003: 237-249.
• Historyworld. History of Latin America (2006), An ever expanding history resource to Make history Make sense. http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?groupid=850&HistoryID=aa87 (Internet, accessed April 11, 2006).

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