Latin American Revolutions

The Latin American War of Independence comprised of numerous wars and conflicts which took place between 1808 to 1829. During this time, Napoleon marshaled his forces and invaded Europe, including Portugal and Spain in 1808. The occupation of his forces led to the Peninsular War, which gave the Spanish Creole an opportunity to gain independence from their mother country. This resulted in a series of revolutions that took place all over Spanish America. These revolutions has a great impact and long lasting implications on the countries in Latin America.

Northern South American Colonies

The relentless war for freedom of Latin American colonies became vivid in 1809. The war against the Spanish forces saw many Latin American regions gain independence. Under the leadership of Simon Bolivar, on June 24, 1821 Venezuelan forces defeated the Spanish and gained independence. In the War of Independence, Ecuador and Colombia too gained independence after battling the Spanish armies.

Southern South American Colonies

Most of the colonies of southern South America, such as Chile, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay fought their wars of independence against the Spanish forces. In these wars, the leadership of José de San Martin, who was known as The Liberator in Argentina, played a crucial role in the independence of these colonies. His remarkable military tactics were instrumental in defeating the Spanish forces. The remarkable leadership of José Gervasio Artigas and Fulgencio Yegros was a huge contributing factor Uruguay's and Paraguay's independence.

Central South American Colonies

A series of conflicts and battles led to the independence of the Peruvian and Bolivian colonies. The proclamation of independence of Peru was made by José de San Martin on July 28, 1821, and although Bolivia gained independence from Spain in 1809, it was followed with sixteen years of pain and struggle before being established as a republic.

Attempt at Uniting Latin America

The constant conflicts and wars between different colonies to gain independence came at a heavy price. The loss of life in these wars was unimaginable. During the Latin American Revolution, trade between Great Britain and the revolutionary colonies against the Spanish regime expanded steadily as Spain had opposed trade with Spanish colonies in the past. In order to sum up a common goal for Latin American nations, a solution was required. One of the first persons to propose a Spanish American cooperation which consisted of a common military, common defense pact and parliamentary assembly was Simon Bolivar at the 1826 Congress of Panama. Although the representatives of Gran Colombia and the United Provinces Of Central America, along with other representatives from Latin American colonies attended the meeting, differences in opinion, regional interests and geographical barriers made the formation of the union impossible.

The War of Independence which lasted for over two decades witnessed some of the bloodiest battles in Latin American history. The loss of life and destruction caused during these series of wars were beyond belief. Although the Latin American Revolution has left bittersweet memories in the minds of people, the common cause of achieving independence makes it one of the most important events in Latin America. After all these events helped shape the path of more than just one country.