How Latin American nations won independence

Grade 10 Social Studies Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Use this

   Cards A to C. 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 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 C, 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.

2. 1.

   Card B names San Martín and Bolívar. What can it show, Bo asks?

   • Which of the two was the better leader, since Bolívar's title is El Libertador
   • Why Peru was freed in 1821, since San Martín led its new government
   • That the two leaders worked together, since both helped Peru win independence
   • Which countries each leader helped win independence
3. 2.

   Card C describes Brazil. What can it show, Esme asks?

   • That Brazil became independent before Mexico, since its court moved in 1808
   • That Brazil's people did not want independence, since a prince led it
   • That Portugal fought a long war to keep Brazil, since the court was in Rio
   • That Brazil took a different path: its court moved to Rio and it declared in 1822
4. 3.

   A student writes: "Hidalgo won Mexico's independence." What does Card A say, Jun asks?

   • True: he is called the Father of Mexican Independence, so he must have won it in the end
   • False: he did nothing, since the opening for independence came from Napoleon's invasion of Spain
   • Hidalgo started the rising in 1810 and was captured in 1811; other steps ended it
   • True: he signed the Treaty of Córdoba in 1821, which ended Spanish rule in Mexico for good
5. 4.

   A student writes: "Bolívar freed South America by himself." What does Card B say, Kira asks?

   • Yes: Bolivia is named in his honor, so he freed it and the others as well
   • No: San Martín freed Venezuela and Colombia, so Bolívar freed just Bolivia
   • Yes: El Libertador means he freed it by himself, and no other leader is needed
   • No: Card B also names San Martín, who helped free Argentina, Chile and Peru

6. Use this

   Cards D to F. Card D, a summary in our words, written today (from the Library of Congress): The Plan of Iguala of February 24, 1821 joined Guerrero's insurgents and Iturbide's army and promised equality of all groups. The Treaty of Córdoba was signed on August 24, 1821, and Mexico had achieved its independence in 1821. Father Miguel Hidalgo, the priest of Dolores, had called the people to rise on September 16, 1810. Card E, a summary in our words, written today (from the Library of Congress and the US Department of State): Mexico won independence in 1821 after a struggle that began in 1810; Brazil declared independence in 1822 under Pedro I. One trigger, Napoleon in 1808, reached both Spain's and Portugal's colonies. The United States recognized Mexico on December 12, 1822. Card F, an invented letter from a merchant in Rio de Janeiro, written for this sheet (not a real person), 1808: "The court has come on the ships, and we are told a printing press will follow. Nobody here knows how long the prince will stay."

7. 5.

   A student writes: "Napoleon's invasion affected just Spain's colonies." What does Card E say, Luz asks?

   • No: Napoleon freed the colonies himself and ended the rule of Spain and Portugal
   • Yes: Portugal was not invaded by Napoleon, so its colonies were not affected
   • Yes: Brazil's court moved for a reason that had nothing to do with Napoleon
   • No: one trigger, Napoleon in 1808, reached both Spain's and Portugal's colonies

8. Use this

   Cards A to C. 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 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 C, 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.

9. 6.

   Cards A and C both begin in 1808. What do they show together, Milo asks?

   • Napoleon invaded Mexico and Brazil themselves, since both cards name him in 1808
   • Napoleon's 1808 invasions touched both empires, and the colonies took different paths
   • Brazil's court moved because Spain was invaded, since both events are in 1808 and Napoleon is named
   • Mexico and Brazil had the same path, since both stories begin in 1808 with the same trigger
10. 7.

    Cards A and B both reach 1821. What do they show together, Noah asks?

    • Peru gained independence before Mexico, since San Martín acted first in the year
    • Bolívar led Mexico in 1821, since he is called El Libertador and 1821 is on both cards
    • Mexico and Peru were freed together under one leader, since both are dated 1821
    • Mexico's Treaty of Córdoba and Peru's independence both came in 1821

11. Use this

    Cards D to F. Card D, a summary in our words, written today (from the Library of Congress): The Plan of Iguala of February 24, 1821 joined Guerrero's insurgents and Iturbide's army and promised equality of all groups. The Treaty of Córdoba was signed on August 24, 1821, and Mexico had achieved its independence in 1821. Father Miguel Hidalgo, the priest of Dolores, had called the people to rise on September 16, 1810. Card E, a summary in our words, written today (from the Library of Congress and the US Department of State): Mexico won independence in 1821 after a struggle that began in 1810; Brazil declared independence in 1822 under Pedro I. One trigger, Napoleon in 1808, reached both Spain's and Portugal's colonies. The United States recognized Mexico on December 12, 1822. Card F, an invented letter from a merchant in Rio de Janeiro, written for this sheet (not a real person), 1808: "The court has come on the ships, and we are told a printing press will follow. Nobody here knows how long the prince will stay."

12. 8.

    Card F is an invented merchant's letter; Card E dates the court's move. What do they show together, Pia asks?

    • The letter is from a Spanish colony, since it mentions the ships
    • Brazil already wanted independence in 1808, since the merchant writes that no one knows how long the prince will stay
    • The court's arrival is dated in Card E, and the letter shows one merchant's uncertainty, not what Brazilians thought
    • Brazilians feared the court, since the merchant wrote of it

13. Use this

    Cards A to C. 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 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 C, 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.

14. 9.

    Card A: Hidalgo's speech in 1810, independence in 1821. A student says Hidalgo fought for 11 years. What is wrong, Ren asks?

    • Nothing is wrong, since 1821 minus 1810 is 11 years and he began it, so he fought through those years
    • It should be 300 years, since Spain ruled New Spain that long and he fought that rule
    • It should be 12 years, since 1822 is when the United States recognized Mexico
    • 11 years is the gap between 1810 and 1821, but Hidalgo was captured in 1811
15. 10.

    Card B: San Martín was born in 1778, Bolívar in 1783. A student says San Martín led first because he was five years older. What is wrong, Tala asks?

    • Nothing is wrong, since an older man starts earlier in public life than a younger one
    • Birth years do not show who led first; the card gives dates of freed countries
    • It should be ten years, since 1850 minus 1778 is the difference
    • It should be seven years, since San Martín freed Chile in 1818 and Bolívar was born in 1783