Society was stratified based on ethnicity and birthplace, with Peninsulares (Spanish-born) holding the top positions in government and the church. Military Campaigns and Turning Points The path to independence was marked by several critical military engagements that shifted the balance of power.
The Decolonization Process in Latin America: Shifting Power and Independence
Below them were the Creoles, descendants of Europeans born in the Americas, who were often wealthy but politically marginalized. The catalyst for widespread revolution arrived with the invasion of Spain by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1808, which led to the forced abdication of King Ferdinand VII and created a power vacuum that challenged the legitimacy of the Spanish monarchy.
The rigid colonial system limited trade to only Spain, stifling local commerce and fostering resentment among the Creole elite. Nevertheless, the revolutions permanently abolished colonial mercantilism and slavery (in most regions), creating the foundational borders and identities of the modern Latin American states.
Decolonization Process in Latin America: Shifting Power and Independence
Unlike earlier isolated rebellions, this period marked a coordinated political rupture that reshaped the geopolitical landscape of the Western Hemisphere. Figures such as Simón Bolívar and José de San Martín became synonymous with the struggle, leading armies across vast territories to defeat Spanish forces.
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