Crash Course World History \#31 - The Latin American Revolutions Guided Questions: Directions. During or after watching the Crash Course video, answer the following questions in your own words. At the bottom of the page, be sure to highlight FIVE key words/topics that you feel were most important or have already been discussed in class. 1. What were the three key institutions that characterized Latin American society before independence? 2. How did Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz's experience exemplify the challenges faced by women in Latin American society? 3. What were the four racial categories prevalent in Latin American society? 4. How did popular sovereignty fare in the quest for independence, and who benefited the least from it? 5. By what year was almost the entire western hemisphere free from European rule? In this box, choose 5 key words you felt were most important to the topic and explain why they are important

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### 1. What were the three key institutions that characterized Latin American society before independence?

Before gaining independence, Latin American society was primarily structured around three key institutions: the **Catholic Church**, the **Spanish Colonial Administration**, and the **Encomienda System**.

- **Catholic Church**: The Church played a central role in daily life, education, and social services. It was a significant landowner and wielded considerable influence over both indigenous populations and colonists.
  
- **Spanish Colonial Administration**: This bureaucratic system governed the colonies, with officials appointed by the Spanish crown managing political, economic, and social affairs. The administration maintained strict control to ensure the flow of wealth, particularly silver and gold, to Spain.
  
- **Encomienda System**: This was a labor system where Spanish encomenderos were granted the right to extract labor and tribute from indigenous people in exchange for providing protection and religious instruction. It effectively exploited indigenous populations and was a cornerstone of the colonial economy.

### 2. How did Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz's experience exemplify the challenges faced by women in Latin American society?

**Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz** was a remarkable intellectual and writer in colonial Mexico who faced significant challenges as a woman seeking education and intellectual recognition. Her experience highlights the broader societal constraints on women during that period:

- **Educational Barriers**: Despite her extraordinary intellect, Sor Juana was limited by societal expectations that discouraged women from pursuing scholarly activities. Her decision to enter a convent was partly driven by the lack of educational opportunities for women.
  
- **Gender Expectations**: As a woman, Sor Juana was expected to focus on domestic roles rather than intellectual pursuits. Her insistence on writing and learning challenged these norms, leading to criticism from both secular and religious authorities.
  
- **Censorship and Repression**: Ultimately, Sor Juana faced pressure from the Church to abandon her studies and writings, exemplifying how women who defied traditional roles were often silenced or forced to conform.

Her life underscores the significant obstacles women faced in achieving intellectual and personal autonomy in Latin American society during the colonial era.

### 3. What were the four racial categories prevalent in Latin American society?

Latin American society was characterized by a complex **caste system** that categorized individuals based on their racial background. The four primary racial categories were:

1. **Peninsulares**: Individuals born in Spain who held the highest social and political status in the colonies. They often occupied key administrative and ecclesiastical positions.
   
2. **Criollos (Creoles)**: Descendants of Spanish settlers born in the Americas. Although wealthy and influential, they were considered lower in status than peninsulares and often led independence movements seeking greater autonomy from Spain.
   
3. **Mestizos**: People of mixed European (usually Spanish) and indigenous ancestry. They formed a significant portion of the population and often worked in various trades and professions but faced social and economic limitations.
   
4. **Indigenous and Afro-Latin Americans**: This category included the native indigenous populations and Africans brought to the Americas through the transatlantic slave trade. They typically occupied the lowest social strata, facing systemic discrimination and limited opportunities for advancement.

These categories were not only racial but also dictated one's social mobility, economic opportunities, and political influence within colonial Latin American society.

### 4. How did popular sovereignty fare in the quest for independence, and who benefited the least from it?

**Popular sovereignty**, the principle that authority derives from the consent of the governed, played a pivotal role in Latin American independence movements. It galvanized widespread support for overthrowing colonial rule and establishing self-governance. However, its implementation had uneven outcomes:

- **Successes**: Popular sovereignty inspired the creation of independent nations and the establishment of constitutions that theoretically upheld the will of the people. Leaders like Simón Bolívar and José de San Martín capitalized on this ideology to unify diverse populations against colonial powers.
  
- **Limitations**: Despite the rhetoric of popular sovereignty, **indigenous peoples, enslaved Africans, and lower-class mestizos** benefited the least from independence. The new republics often maintained power within elite, criollo-dominated circles, perpetuating social hierarchies and excluding marginalized groups from meaningful political participation and economic opportunities.
  
- **Continuing Inequality**: The promises of equality and representation were largely unfulfilled for these disenfranchised populations, who continued to face discrimination and limited access to resources even after independence was achieved.

Thus, while popular sovereignty was a driving force for independence, its benefits were unevenly distributed, leaving the most vulnerable groups still marginalized in the newly formed nations.

### 5. By what year was almost the entire western hemisphere free from European rule?

By **1825**, almost the entire Western Hemisphere had achieved independence from European colonial powers. This culmination followed a series of independence movements across Latin America initiated in the early 19th century. Key milestones leading to this achievement included:

- **Early 1800s**: The Spanish American wars of independence began, inspired by Enlightenment ideas and weakened by conflicts like the Napoleonic Wars in Europe.
  
- **1810-1820**: Significant independence declarations and battles occurred in regions such as Mexico, Venezuela, Argentina, Chile, and Peru.
  
- **1825**: The final territories in Latin America, including Brazil's consolidation of independence from Portugal and the liberation of remaining Spanish colonies, signified the end of major European colonial rule in the Western Hemisphere.

This period marked a significant shift in global power structures, as newly independent nations emerged across Latin America.

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### Five Key Words/Topics

1. **Criollos (Creoles)**: Understanding criollos is essential as they were the primary leaders of the independence movements in Latin America. Their unique position—as wealthy, locally born individuals of Spanish descent—allowed them to challenge peninsular dominance and seek autonomy from European control.

2. **Encomienda System**: This labor system was fundamental to the colonial economy and deeply affected indigenous populations. Recognizing the encomienda system helps explain the economic motivations behind colonial exploitation and the social hierarchies that persisted into the independence era.

3. **Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz**: As a prominent female intellectual, Sor Juana's life highlights the gendered challenges within colonial Latin American society. Her struggle for educational and intellectual freedom sheds light on the broader societal constraints faced by women.

4. **Popular Sovereignty**: This principle was a driving force behind the independence movements, emphasizing the role of the people in legitimizing authority. Understanding popular sovereignty is crucial for comprehending the ideological foundations of the new nations that emerged post-independence.

5. **Caste System**: The complex racial hierarchy in Latin America shaped social interactions, economic opportunities, and political power structures. Grasping the nuances of the caste system is vital for analyzing the social dynamics and enduring inequalities that influenced the independence movements and their outcomes.
Before independence, Latin American society was structured around three key institutions: the Catholic Church, the Spanish Colonial Administration, and the Encomienda System. Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz faced significant challenges as a woman seeking education and intellectual recognition, highlighting the societal constraints on women during the colonial era. Latin American society was divided into four racial categories: Peninsulares, Criollos, Mestizos, and Indigenous and Afro-Latin Americans. Popular sovereignty played a crucial role in the independence movements, but it primarily benefited the criollo elite, leaving indigenous and enslaved populations with limited gains. By 1825, almost the entire Western Hemisphere had achieved independence from European colonial rule. **Five Key Words/Topics:** 1. **Criollos (Creoles)** 2. **Encomienda System** 3. **Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz** 4. **Popular Sovereignty** 5. **Caste System**

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