BELLWORK1. Why was Haiti able to win independence?

2. Who was Simon Bolivar?

3. Who was Jose de San Martin?

4. How/why was the Brazilian Revolution able to remain “bloodless?”

5. THINKER: With regards to causes of revolution…..how were the revolutions against Spanish rule different from the American Revolution?

Independence of the Viceroyalty of New Granada

The creation of Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela

Colonial History• The colony of New

Granada was established by the Spanish in 1717– Colombia, Venezuela,

Panama & Ecuador– Capital was Bogota

• Ruled by a viceroy who was appointed by the King

• Early problems – lack of communication, trade, geography, huge population with no rights

Problems in New Granada• Native & mestizo

population ~4.5 million• Between 1796-1806 there

were several conflicts between centralists and federalists, with little support from Spain

• La Patria Boba (the Foolish Fatherland): period of instability where each province, set up its own autonomous juntas

• Each junta declared themselves sovereign from one another

Along came Napoleon….• Napoleon conquered

Spain in 1810 and dissolved the Spanish Supreme Junta

• Spain began to focus on its own independence from French control

• Declarations of independence in New Granada followed:– Quito (Ecuador): 1809– Colombia: July 20, 1810– Venezuela: July 5, 1811

Venezuela breaks free• Prior to 1810 – no political

voice, ruled from Bogota, overlooked by Spain

• Post 1810 - Established a unified government in political (governorship), military (captaincy general - viceroy), fiscal (intendancy) and judicial (audiencia) affairs.

• Spoiler Alert! Venezuela will be re-conquered by the Spanish in 1816 & forced to reunite with Colombia until 1830

• Six provinces under Venezuelan control: 1810

“Independence” was short lived• Although Bogota still acted as a regional

capital, it failed to provide political unity• Battles broke out between cities as each tried

to defend its sovereignty • In 1811, Bogota tried to unify everyone again

until……• Civil Wars broke out! Lasted from 1812-1814• By mid-1815 a large Spanish expeditionary

force under Pablo Morillo arrived in New Granada, and by May 1816 the royalists had control of all of New Granada.

Struggle for Total Independence• Movement led by Simon

Bolivar• Aided by Francisco de Paula

Santander (Venezuela)• Both had military and political

experience

End of Spanish Control

• Bolivar led an army over the Andes and captured New Granada from the Spanish

• Aide from England

• The quick campaign ended at the Battle of Boyacá, on August 7, 1819.

Post-independence• That year, the Republic of Gran Colombia was

created, which included all territories under jurisdiction of the former Viceroyalty of New Granada.

• Bolívar was elected first president of Gran Colombia and Santander, vice president

Post-Revolution Government: Conflict between Liberals & Conservatives

• Conservative Party• Bolívar's

supporters• Wanted a strong

centralized government

• Alliance with the Roman Catholic Church

• Liberal Party• Santander’s followers• Wanted a

decentralized government

• State rather than church control over education

• Widened suffrage (voting rights)

The Breakdown of Gran Colombia• The government of

the new Republic did not take into account the autonomy that Venezuela previously experienced.

• Gran Colombia fell apart in 1830 when Venezuela and Ecuador seceded.

Post-Ind. Government: Conflict between Liberals & Conservatives• Both Colombia & Venezuela maintained a republican

government with regular, free elections• Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, conflict was

tense between the two parties, especially in Colombia• Two Civil Wars resulted from this rivalry (1890s & 1940s)• The military seized power three times in Colombia’s history:

1830 (after breakup of Great Colombia), in 1854, & in 1953.• This political instability is not only common in Colombia, it

becomes a theme of South American politics throughout the 19th century.

• Especially conflict between liberals and conservatives!!!

Let’s Recap….• 1717 - Spanish colonization• 1739 - Spanish government & viceroy of New

Granada established• 1810 - Independence declared• 1816 - Reconquered by Spanish• August 7, 1819 - Disestablished• 1821 - Republic of Gran Colombia• 1830 - Breakdown of Gran Colombia and total

independence of Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador

Reading: Economic and social effects of revolutions in the

Americas