How Latin American nations won independence

Grade 10 Social Studies Worksheet - Challenge Me

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Use this

   Cards A to D. Card A, a summary in our words, written today (from the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian and the US Department of State): Mexico, from New Spain to independence. Spain ruled New Spain for about 300 years, from 1521 to 1821. In the early 1800s Mexicans were discussing how to revolt against Spain. In 1808 Napoleon invaded Spain, which gave Spain's colonies an opening to fight for independence. On September 16, 1810 Father Miguel Hidalgo, the priest of Dolores, called the people to rise in the speech known as the Grito de Dolores. On March 21, 1811 Hidalgo was captured, and later executed. On February 24, 1821 the Plan of Iguala joined Guerrero's insurgents and Iturbide's army and promised equality of all groups. On August 24, 1821 the Treaty of Córdoba was signed and Mexico won independence. Hidalgo is called the Father of Mexican Independence. The United States recognized Mexico on December 12, 1822. Card B, a summary in our words, written today (from the Library of Congress): Brazil, a different path. Brazil was a colony of Portugal. In 1808, fleeing Napoleon's invasion of Portugal, the Portuguese royal court under Dom João (later King João VI) moved to Rio de Janeiro, and Brazil became the only colony to be the seat of its empire. The first printing press arrived with the royal court. From 1810 Spain's colonies to the north and west fought for independence. On September 7, 1822 Pedro I declared Brazil's independence from Portugal. Independence won support from a broad base of people, monarchists most of all. One trigger, Napoleon in 1808, reached both Spain's and Portugal's colonies. Card C, a summary in our words, written today (from the Smithsonian National Postal Museum): José de San Martín (1778 to 1850) helped win freedom for his native Argentina (dated 1812 on one museum page; many other sources date Argentina's declaration of independence to 1816), then independence for Chile in 1818 and Peru in 1821, and led Peru's new government. He is considered a national hero in Argentina. Simón Bolívar (1783 to 1830), called El Libertador, won victories that helped Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela win independence. Bolivia is named in his honor. Card D, an invented pamphlet from 1822, written for this sheet (not a real person): "We ask Prince Pedro to lead us, so that Brazil may be free and its good order kept."

2. 1.

   Card A calls Hidalgo the Father of Mexican Independence, yet independence came in 1821, after his capture in 1811. How do these fit, Ari asks?

   • The title is wrong, since he was captured in 1811 and so did little for independence
   • Hidalgo signed the Treaty of Córdoba, which explains the title he is given in 1821
   • A title can honor who began a struggle; the Plan of Iguala and the Treaty finished it
   • They contradict, since a father of independence must have won it in his own lifetime
3. 2.

   Cards A and B name Napoleon in 1808 for both Mexico and Brazil, but the paths differ. How does that fit the claim "Napoleon caused independence," Bo asks?

   • He set off different paths, so the same event cannot explain the outcomes alone
   • The claim holds for Mexico alone, since Brazil's court fled without a fight
   • The claim is false, since the paths were different in Mexico and in Brazil, so a single cause cannot be right
   • The claim is proved, since Napoleon is named as the trigger for both Mexico and Brazil
4. 3.

   Card B says monarchists were most of the support for Brazilian independence. Card D is an invented 1822 pamphlet asking Prince Pedro to lead. How do they fit, Esme asks?

   • The pamphlet is a primary source, so it outweighs a later summary such as Card B on what people wanted
   • The pamphlet shows what most Brazilians wanted, since it appeared in 1822, the year of independence
   • The pamphlet fits monarchist support, but it shows one group's view, not the broad base
   • The pamphlet contradicts Card B, since it asks a prince, not a people, to lead

5. Card A, a timeline in our words, written today

   Spain ruled New Spain for about 300 years, 1521 to 1821. 1808: Napoleon invades Spain, and the Portuguese royal court moves to Rio de Janeiro. 1810: Father Hidalgo calls the people of Dolores to rise. 1811: Hidalgo is captured. 1818: Chile wins independence, with help from San Martín. 1821: the Plan of Iguala (February) and the Treaty of Córdoba (August) end Spanish rule in Mexico; Peru wins independence, with help from San Martín. 1822: Pedro I declares Brazil's independence from Portugal (September 7). Bolívar's victories help Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela win independence (dates not given). Card B, Reading X (invented for this sheet, not a historian's words): Independence came mainly because Napoleon's invasion of Spain in 1808 broke the ties of rule and opened a chance that colonies had not had before. Card C, Reading Y (invented for this sheet, not a historian's words): Independence came mainly because discontent had built up over centuries of colonial rule, so the colonies were ready to break away whenever a chance came. Card D, Reading Z (invented for this sheet, not a historian's words): Independence came mainly because leaders such as Hidalgo, San Martín and Bolívar organized and carried on the struggle when others might have given up.

6. 4.

   Which fact on Card A fits Reading Z, leaders mattered most, better than X or Y, Jun asks?

   • San Martín helped free Chile in 1818 and Peru in 1821
   • Spain ruled New Spain for about 300 years, from 1521 to 1821, before independence
   • Napoleon invaded Spain in 1808, which opened the way for the colonies
   • The Portuguese court moved to Rio de Janeiro in 1808 when Napoleon invaded Portugal
7. 5.

   A student says X (trigger) and Y (long discontent) fit together. What question would still be open, Kira asks?

   • Nothing, since the two readings together explain what happened in each colony
   • Which reading has the earliest fact, since that one is the cause of everything else
   • Whether Napoleon invaded, since the readings are invented and not facts
   • Why independence took until 1821 and 1822 when both were present by 1810
8. 6.

   Which evidence would best test Reading Y, that long discontent made independence ready to happen, Luz asks?

   • The dates of Napoleon's invasions, since they show when discontent began
   • Writings and petitions by colonists before 1808 that show complaints and plans
   • A list of leaders' birth years, since leaders were born into discontent
   • Another modern summary that agrees with Y, since agreement shows it is true

9. Use this

   Cards A to D. Card A, a summary in our words, written today (from the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian and the US Department of State): Mexico, from New Spain to independence. Spain ruled New Spain for about 300 years, from 1521 to 1821. In the early 1800s Mexicans were discussing how to revolt against Spain. In 1808 Napoleon invaded Spain, which gave Spain's colonies an opening to fight for independence. On September 16, 1810 Father Miguel Hidalgo, the priest of Dolores, called the people to rise in the speech known as the Grito de Dolores. On March 21, 1811 Hidalgo was captured, and later executed. On February 24, 1821 the Plan of Iguala joined Guerrero's insurgents and Iturbide's army and promised equality of all groups. On August 24, 1821 the Treaty of Córdoba was signed and Mexico won independence. Hidalgo is called the Father of Mexican Independence. The United States recognized Mexico on December 12, 1822. Card B, a summary in our words, written today (from the Library of Congress): Brazil, a different path. Brazil was a colony of Portugal. In 1808, fleeing Napoleon's invasion of Portugal, the Portuguese royal court under Dom João (later King João VI) moved to Rio de Janeiro, and Brazil became the only colony to be the seat of its empire. The first printing press arrived with the royal court. From 1810 Spain's colonies to the north and west fought for independence. On September 7, 1822 Pedro I declared Brazil's independence from Portugal. Independence won support from a broad base of people, monarchists most of all. One trigger, Napoleon in 1808, reached both Spain's and Portugal's colonies. Card C, a summary in our words, written today (from the Smithsonian National Postal Museum): José de San Martín (1778 to 1850) helped win freedom for his native Argentina (dated 1812 on one museum page; many other sources date Argentina's declaration of independence to 1816), then independence for Chile in 1818 and Peru in 1821, and led Peru's new government. He is considered a national hero in Argentina. Simón Bolívar (1783 to 1830), called El Libertador, won victories that helped Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela win independence. Bolivia is named in his honor. Card D, an invented pamphlet from 1822, written for this sheet (not a real person): "We ask Prince Pedro to lead us, so that Brazil may be free and its good order kept."

10. 7.

    A student claims: "The revolt of 1810 failed, because Hidalgo was captured in 1811." What does Card A allow, Milo asks?

    • The claim is right, since independence came by the Plan of Iguala, not by his rising
    • The claim is right, since he was captured
    • His capture ended his part, but the struggle went on to 1821
    • The claim is wrong, since he is called the Father of Mexican Independence
11. 8.

    A student claims: "Bolívar and San Martín freed South America." What do Cards B and C allow, Pia asks?

    • The claim is right, since they freed the whole continent of South America between them
    • The claim is wrong, since they freed just their home countries of Argentina and Venezuela
    • Seven different countries, with Peru in both, and Brazil on a different path
    • The claim is right, since eight countries is the total and there is no overlap between them
12. 9.

    Looking at Cards A to D, what is the strongest limit on claims about why independence came, Tala asks?

    • The cards agree on each cause of independence, so nothing about the cause is uncertain
    • They are summaries of events and leaders; ordinary colonists' own voices are missing
    • The pamphlet is invented, so no fact on the cards is usable, even facts from the Library of Congress
    • The cards cover too few countries, so nothing can be said about any of them, even Mexico and Brazil
13. 10.

    Cards A and C call Hidalgo "Father of Mexican Independence" and Bolívar "El Libertador." What can titles show, Zee asks?

    • How later people honored leaders, not a measure of what each achieved
    • What each leader achieved, since a title is given for a deed
    • Who was the more important leader, since El Libertador is the grander title
    • That the leaders chose the titles themselves, since the cards give them