Essay Questions
- Why were residents of Latin America so concerned about political events in Spain, Portugal and France?
- Why did the composition of the 1812 Spanish Cortes become so divisive for Latin Americans?
- Who was Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla?
- What was the “Grito de Dolores”?
- Where did Simón Bolívar come from?
- What happened when Spanish King Ferdinand returned to Spain? How did he provoke the wars of independence?
- Who was José de San Martín?
- How did regional loyalties affect Bolívar’s plans for South America?
- Why was the Brazilian reaction to European wars so different from the rest of South America?
- How did the Catholic Church create a sense of community in early 19th century Latin America?
- What happened to slaves and women during and after the wars of independence?
- Did the wars of independence mark the beginning of a new era in Latin America?