The Creoles led the revolutions in Latin America because of a desire for political power, nationalism, and economic conditions. Political power was a huge motivator for the Creoles. As the second highest class in the New World, "The Creoles had growing economic and social influence, but the peninsulares monopolized all administrative positions" (Doc B). Even though Creoles composed a much larger percentage of the population than did peninsulares, only 12 Creoles were judges, compared to 87 peninsulares. The Creoles possessed some power, but real authority remained tantalizingly out of reach, residing only in the hands of the peninsulares.
Citizens fought for the basic human rights for the slaves. The slave revolt in Haiti spread when news had reached the slaves that they were free. Shortly after the slave revolt the Latin American Wars for Independence occurred to continue freeing slaves. The differences exists between the revolutions because the slave revolts started the revolution, but enlightened thinking inspired the Latin American Wars for Independence. Even though the Haitian Revolution was built of slaves fighting for their own rights while the Latin American Wars for Independence were citizens fighting for slave rights, both revolutions helped gain freedom for the slaves.
Book Review The Many Headed-Hydra: Sailors, Slaves, Commoners and the Hidden History of the Revolutionary Atlantic A huge portion of America’s history is shrouded in mist due to most historians only interested in glorifying the triumphs of our “founding fathers” instead of the efforts of the people below them. Authors Peter Linebaugh and Marcus Rediker attempt to bring to light the slaves and other lower class citizens; and the arduous conditions they had to endure to satisfy their superiors or slave owners. They believe these diverse groups of individuals were “essential to the rise of capitalism and the modern, global economy” (Peter and Rediker 6-7). This book is a significant contribution to the darker side of America’s history, giving credit where it is due (7). The title of the book refers to a creature from Greek mythology, a “many-headed” serpent.
Those of African ancestry faced many struggles and obstacles after slavery. Even after gaining Emancipation in 1834, slaves in the British West Indies were still forced into other forms of unpaid labor. Instead of being owned by masters, they became impoverished free citizens. Their poverty made them desperate for work, therefore turning them into a cheap form of labor for the white supremacists. This created a new definition of owning slaves, now being owned by those who paid them a meager
Likewise, in Africa, the social structure changed as a result of the invading Europeans. During the slave trades, the Europeans wanted only the African males, leaving behind a significant amount of women, upsetting the gender ratio, forcing many societies to be subject to female authority. Because of this huge demand for male workers, many Africans fought wars over male slaves so their society could continue to stimulate their new found piece of the global market. Since Europe’s economy has been steady because of the control they have over the global market, not much has changed in the social pyramid of the
We can see the noticeable change in economic, black consciousness, political and social features of America. Others may argue that, although there was clear de jure desegregation, de facto segregation still remained especially in the North. On the other hand, many campaigns carried out in this time period gained plenty of white liberal support which brought a great help to improving the equality of blacks in
The Middle Passage The slave trade was a major business that made many people rich, but made many more people very poor. Starting around the 1500s, what was once a peaceful trade between Africans and Europeans became a corrupt trade of non-equality and unfairness. Many books, laws, and protests were made but nothing could stop the greedy slave masters. One slave named Olaudah Equiano, describes what his life was like as a slave in his book called The Kidnapped Prince The Life of Olaudah Equiano. Equiano depicts horrifying details of his life.
The Haitian revolution continued under his lieutenants Jean-Jacques Dessalines and Henri Christopher, where a combination of slave strength and yellow fever defeated the massive French army. On January 1, 1804, Dessalines proclaimed independence of the western part of Hispaniola, giving it the name of Haiti. Haiti’s independence was an influential victory towards the exploited slaves of the New World; it gave them hope and helps build their courage. Latin American elites were startled by the slave’s courage that won Haiti its independence form
The slave trade expanded to meet the demand for labor in the new American colonies, and millions were exported in an organized commerce that involved Europeans, Africans as well as the colonies. The slave labor made up a huge percentage of the workforce because of they cheap and effect work. . By the mid-1800s the starting with the British Slave Trade Act of 1807 the idea of slavery was being looked down upon. Starting with the British then the USA followed soon by many European countries the slave trade was completely outlawed.
Ship loads of More black African slaves were brought to the Americas every day for sale. The whites foresaw future potential threat to their racial domination and supremacy. That black population was increasing at a faster rate than white people, hence measures should be taken to prevent a repeat of Moses’ story in the book of Exodus in the Holy Bible. White people bought black people to work on plantations in the southern states, and partly to breed the blacks for resale purposes. Indentured male and female black servants were forced to have