Latin America, just like other regions such as Africa and other parts of Europe and Asia, suffered colonization. The Spanish occupied Latin America for a considerable length of time before their control ended in 1898. As part of the imperial powers, Spain was rather powerful and had spread its influence on various parts of Latin America. In this regard, a unified attack against the Spaniards was needed to terminate Spanish occupation in Latin America. One of the motivating factors which pushed for revolution in Latin America was identity. Being under the colonial rule of Spaniards, one would expect that those colonized would identify as such. However, the domination of the American identity largely propelled the fight against Spain. Thus, with colonized communities identifying as Americans and not Spaniards, it was unlikely that Spain would continue enjoying her influence in the region in question. Arguably, the unified association of colonized states as Americans played a fundamental role in cutting short Spain’s rule in the region, thereby strengthening the Latin America revolution.
Understandably, Latin America was and is home to individuals from different regions across the globe. Therefore, it is only logical to argue that conforming and changing their identity from their distinctive ethnic backgrounds to being called Spaniards, would be met with resistance. An author, Todd Hartch (2002) stated that colonial Latin America experienced a remarkable convergence of three different groups of people who were Africans, Europeans and Indigenous Americans. Therefore, since the early days of contact and conquest, native Americans alongside enslaved Africans formed hybrid societies characteristic of great complexity and dynamism. With such a social setting, the Spaniards might have faced a challenge when it came to merging or, in some cases, alienating some cultural practices and beliefs. Having the colonized communities adopt the Spanish ways of life would mean using a certain level of force thereby risking the development of factions composed of those opposed to such kind of treatment. Explaining the impact of Spanish colonization on indigenous communities, Hartch (2002) noted that the Spanish created a tribute system which resulted in considerable suffering for indigenous women. For the Spanish, such kind of treatment would be perceived as a way to strengthen their influence in Latin America but a few years later, that kind of reasoning would be challenged. The tribute system implied the emergence of social hierarchies thereby creating social classes. Hartch (2002) noted that “… the accelerating pace of female immigration from Europe meant that Spanish men increasingly spurned indigenous and mestiza women to marry Spanish women, indicating that racial hierarchies became more, not less, entrenched as colonial society matured” (p. 158). During this time, indigenous women were now being spurned which lowered their reproductive rate. From an analytical point of view, the lower the birth rate among those under colonization would give the Spanish an opportunity to increase their numbers.
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Thus far, it is clear that Latin America was home to individuals from different regions across the globe. However, the Spanish tried to increase their population through spurn indigenous women and marrying women who came from their homeland. Keen and Haynes (2012) discussed the history of Latin America addressing some of the experiences with the Spanish. The authors cited that Spanish officials did not command a high level of respect from local communities because the new power structure interfered with the traditional hierarchy such as that of the Andean community based on age and position inherited. Hence, for the Andean community, Spanish occupation meant that they had to disorganize their power structure, something which would mean deviating from their traditions and culture. However, the kurakas (official of an empire) could not be completely dispensed, and they were given posts to serve as allies and agents of their colonizer. Nevertheless, Keene and Haynes (2012) acknowledged that “… their personal liability for such community obligations like mita [public service] and tribute placed them at risk of having to sell their estates or losing their wealth through confiscation by corregidores [city administrators]” (p. 119). Therefore, one can notice that the only way that the Spanish would be assured loyalty from the kurakas was through blackmail. As noted earlier on, members of the Andean community were not in full support of Spanish occupation which meant that a rebellion would likely take place. Hence, an important lesson to heed is that the Spanish feared a revolution from within its ranks which made sense giving power to some members of the local community officials. However, even in doing so, the Spaniards made the mistake of pushing for the abolishment of the traditional power structure which the Andean community, among others in a similar position, held in high regard.
The identity of the colonized communities played a major role in setting up the foundation for a unified front against the Spaniards in Latin America. Simon Bolivar, a leader in Venezuela, experienced first-hand oppression from the Spaniards. After he was defeated by the Spanish in 1815, Bolivar was exiled and he went to the Island of Jamaica from where he issued a letter assessing the current and future perspectives of the struggle for freedom in Venezuela. Bolivar is one of the leaders in Latin America who made it clear that South Americans identified as Americans and would not conform to Spanish ways. Arguably, remaining as South Americans meant that they could maintain their traditional beliefs and customs as they were a mark of identity. In his letter to an official in Jamaica, Bolivar, nicknamed as ‘El Libertador’, wrote
“ With what a feeling of gratitude I read that passage in your letter in which you say to me: “I hope that the success which then followed Spanish arms may now turn in favor of their adversaries, the badly oppressed people of South America.” I take this hope as a prediction, if it is justice that determines man’s contests. Success will crown our efforts, because the destiny of America has been irrevocably decided; the tie that bound her to Spain has been severed” (para. 4).
In the above excerpt, one can notice that Bolivar considered Venezuelans as embodying the American identity and not Spaniards. Thus, in his letter, he emphasizes the need and urgency for Venezuelans to fight against their colonizers to preserve their South American heritage. While independence was the motivating factor, it is important to consider that traditional beliefs, values, and norms were of central significance in the fight for freedom. Further providing evidence for the above point of view, Rebok (2009) discussed the views of a scientist, Alexander Von Humboldt, regarding Spanish occupation in Latin America. Humboldt’s experience was that locals preferred to be called Americans and not Spaniards. To demonstrate Humbodt’s findings, Rebok (2009) noted that in Peru, local communities showed “… more interest in- and more appreciation for- the pre-Historic Indian civilization than the colonial one with which he was actually confronted”. Therefore, based on Humbodt’s encounter with colonized regions in South America, one can notice a progression in terms of how states in Latin America formed to fight against the Spanish. The revolution, in this case, was an outcome of the unified sentiment when it came to the identity of the colonized communities. One can argue that the continued existence of different cultures and traditions in South America was the result of the insurgence against the Spanish imperialists.
The dominating theme is that the Latin America revolution was pioneered by the colonized communities identifying as Americans as opposed to Spaniards. The Spaniards, as Hartch (2002) noted, used a tribute system which affected the reproductive capacity of indigenous women negatively. By them marrying Spanish women, this meant that they could expand their population and hence have a stronger control. Nevertheless, they faced opposition in that local communities did not consider themselves as Spaniards. A good example is how Bolivar describes the Venezuelan community stating that it comprised of South Americans. Such kind of association was fundamental as it mirrored the level of importance placed in colonized communities’ traditions and customs. Further, one can notice why the Andean community considered the Spanish power structure as invading their traditional system of rule. However, it is also evident that the Spanish threatened the kurakas if they did not demonstrate loyalty to the ruling colonial administration. Nevertheless, Humbodt’s experiences reveals that the fight for independence was, in part, propelled by the desire to maintain the South American identity. Hence, being called Americans had far much value and significance to the colonized communities.
Conclusion
Throughout the colonization of Latin America, the Spanish threatened the erosion of the culture and customs of colonized communities. However, evidenced gathered from various sources reveals the value placed on local communities’ traditions. For instance, Bolivar considered that Venezuela was part of the Americas and being free meant undermining the influence of growth of the Spaniards. Humbodt’s experiences reinforce the argument in that local South American communities cherished and valued their identities thereby using that as a tool to fight against the invading Spaniards. In this regard, one can notice that the Latin America revolution was, in part, a result of local communities identifying as Americans and not Spaniards.
References
Bolivar, S. (1815). Letter from Jamaica. Retrieved from https://library.brown.edu/create/modernlatinamerica/chapters/chapter-2-the-colonial-foundations/primary-documents-with-accompanying-discussion-questions/document-2-simon-bolivar-letter-from-jamaica-september-6-1815/
Hartch, T. (2002). The Women of Colonial Latin America (review). Journal of World History,13 (2), 517-519. doi:10.1353/jwh.2002.0038
Keen, B. & Haynes, K. (2012). A History of Latin America . Cengage Learning.
Rebok, S. (2009). Alexander von Humboldt’s perceptions of colonial Spanish America. Dynamis, 29. Retrieved from http://scielo.isciii.es/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0211-95362009000100003
