Questions: Latin American Independence Movements (1808–1826)
4 questions to test your understanding
Score: 0 / 4
Question 1 Multiple Choice
Which event most directly set off the independence movements in Spanish America?
AThe Seven Years' War
BNapoleon's invasion of Spain and removal of the Spanish king in 1808
CThe Congress of Vienna
DThe Monroe Doctrine
When Napoleon forced the Spanish king to give up the throne and made his brother Joseph king, colonists had to decide whom to obey. Local governing councils formed in 1810, and many moved toward full independence.
Question 2 True / False
Most Latin American independence movements were led by Creoles, people of European descent born in the Americas.
TTrue
FFalse
Answer: True
Creoles resented that the highest offices went to peninsulares born in Spain. Leaders such as Bolívar and San Martín were Creoles. Mexico's movement began with a priest, Miguel Hidalgo, leading a rural uprising, but Creole officers completed independence in 1821.
Question 3 Short Answer
How did Brazil's road to independence differ from that of Spanish America?
Think about your answer, then reveal below.
Model answer: The Portuguese royal court fled to Brazil in 1808 and ruled from Rio de Janeiro. After the king returned to Portugal, his son Pedro declared Brazil independent in 1822 and became emperor, so Brazil kept a monarchy and avoided the long wars of Spanish America.
Brazil's continuity with the royal family let its elites keep order and slavery, and it remained a monarchy until 1889.
Question 4 Multiple Choice
Which leader is most associated with liberating the northern part of South America, including Venezuela and Colombia?
AJosé de San Martín
BMiguel Hidalgo
CSimón Bolívar
DToussaint Louverture
Bolívar led campaigns in Venezuela, New Granada (Colombia), Ecuador and Peru. San Martín led the southern campaigns in Argentina, Chile and Peru. Hidalgo began the revolt in Mexico, and Toussaint Louverture led the Haitian Revolution.