The Wars for Independence

By the end of the eighteenth century, the ideas of the Enlightenment and the new political ideals stemming from the successful revolution in North America were beginning to influence the creole elites (descendants of Europeans who became permanent inhabitants of Latin America).

The principles of the equality of all people in the eyes of the law, free trade, and a free press proved very attractive.

Sons of creoles, such as Simon Bolivar and Jose de San Martin who became leaders of the independence movement, even went to European universities, where they imbibed the ideas of the Enlightenment.

These Latin American elites, joined by a growing class of merchants, especially resented the domination of their trade by Spain and Portugal.