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Inconfidencia Mineira
Jose da Silva Xavier (known as Tiradentes) is hung for starting a movement in Brazil known as the Inconfidencia Mineria. Tiradentes presumably traveled to cities all across Brazil bearing a copy of the American constituion, in order to persuade the people to rebel and form a Brazilian republic. Because of the horrifying French Revolution taking place in Europe, Portugal's rulers decided on hanging as the suitable punishment for Tiradentes. -
Joseph Bonaparte becomes king of Spain
After Napoléon Bonaparte invaded Spain he made his brother Joseph king. This was an important factor in many of the Latin American revolutions. Many people in the colonies rejected his authority and decided they would govern themselves, leading to the formation of military juntas throughout the Spanish colonies. Many of the juntas claimed to act in the name of the legitimate Spanish monarchy. The conflicts between juntas and colonial officials were important sparks to revolution. -
Chilean Independence
After a French intruder was made ruler of Spain, Chile decided to declare itself independent until the Spanish king was restored. This taste self rule of 1810 inspired ideas of full independence in Chileans. When Spainards came in for reconquest of Chile, rebels who wanted full independence used guerilla warfare to resist them. They defeated the last large force of Spainards on April 5, 1808 but fighting persisted in the south Chilean provinces until 1826. -
Peru Proclaims Independence
In 1809, as Spain was occupied by France, junta movements began, the most important of which was one that was supported by Creoles and centered on Cuzco. Although these early stages of rebellion were crushed, José de San Martín (who had just liberated Chile) attacked north into Peru in 1820. Independence was declared, but the war was not yet finished. Simón Bolívar and his lieutenants then marched south into Peru and finished liberation by 1824. -
Brazilian Independence
Portuguese prince regent of Brazil Dom Pedro met the Portuguese troops sent to bring him back home with force, saying he would never leave Brazil. No violence resulted from the meeting of the armies, but after that, Dom Pedro declared Brazil as an independent country from Portugal. He himself became the first king of Brazil. -
Battle of Ayacucho, Peru
Simón Bolívar's lieutenant Antonio José de Sucre decisively defeats the Spanish viceroy's forces, effectively ending all royalist power in Peru. The victory allows liberation forces to continue the march and liberate Upper Peru (Bolivia). Once liberation is complete, Bolivians choose independence from Peru (1825). Back in Peru, the old elites have been defeated, which creates a power vacuum that sets the stage for a chaotic period of caudillo rule. -
Bolivian Independance
After formerly being a part of Peru, Bolivia declared independence on August 6th, 1825, a year after Simon Bolivar's (pictured) victory in the Battle of Junin, Also on this date was the vote between 48 delegates who came to a majority vote to make an independant country from Peru which is now Bolivia. -
Uruguay Declares Independance
José Gervasio Artigas (pictured left) initiated the revolt against Spain in 1811. In 1816, Brazilians attacked Montevideo from the north and after fighting several years Uruguay was annexed to Brazil in 1821. On August 25, 1825, Juan Antonio Lavalleja and a group of men issued a declaration of independence. After a 3 year fight, a peace treaty between Argentina and Brazil was brokered by Britain and signed on August 28, 1828, which guaranteed Uruguay's independendence. -
1810 Treaty with Britain Expires
Due to the expiration of an 1810 treaty with Britain and the Alves Branco tariff doubled the taxes on British goods, Brazil was able to shake off Britian's regulation of its economy. Despite this, Brazil still remained an export economy, which was still at mercy to the demand for raw materials and goods in Europe and America.
