G08: Revolution: Latin America

The Mexican Revolution, which began in 1910, ended dictatorship in Mexico and established a constitutional republic. A number of groups, led by revolutionaries including Francisco Madero, Pascual Orozco, Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata, participated in the long and costly conflict. Though a constitution drafted in 1917 formalized many of the reforms sought by rebel groups, periodic violence continued into the 1930s.

The Father of Mexican Independence, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla is honored in Mexico as a leader in the revolt against Spain and as a pioneer in economic reforms for the peasants. A priest, he was executed by the Spanish as a traitor. September 16, the day he called the Mexican people to rise up against their Spanish oppressors, is celebrated as Mexico’s Independence Day.

Six nations—Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia—venerate Simón Bolívar as their liberator from the rule of Spain. This great statesman, writer, and revolutionary general is known as the George Washington of South America. He inspired men to follow him through trackless wilderness to fight and die for liberty.

Also known as: July 26 movement (1956–1959)
Fidel Castro Ruz's arrival in Havana on January 7, 1952, marked the culmination of events that had begun with Fulgencio Batista y Zaldívar's coup d’état on March 10 of that year and also marked the beginning of the consolidation of the revolution that changed Cuba from the 1960s into the early 21st century.

The Cuban Revolution was an armed uprising led by Fidel Castro that eventually toppled the brutal dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista. The revolution began with a failed assault on Cuban military barracks on July 26, 1953, but by the end of 1958, the guerrilla revolutionaries in Castro’s 26th of July Movement had gained the upper hand in Cuba, forcing Batista to flee the island on January 1, 1959.

PRINCIPAL COMBATANTS: Rebel bands led by Fidel Castro vs. the forces of Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista

PRINCIPAL THEATER(S): Cuba

DECLARATION: None

MAJOR ISSUES AND OBJECTIVES: A revolutionary movement led by Fidel Castro sought to overthrow the tyrannical regime of Fulgencio Batista and bring a Marxist government to Cuba.

OUTCOME: On new year's eve 1959 Cuban guerrillas under the leadership of Fidel Castro marched toward Havana. As the populace of the island's capital rose up in support of the "Fidelistas," the brutal Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista fled the country in the early morning hours of new year's day. The Cuban Revolution succeeded and became a model for third world Marxist regimes.

When Andrada e Silva returned to Brazil in 1819, he found all of Latin America in political ferment. The Spanish and Portuguese colonies were attempting to break away from their European masters.

“He loves liberty with an ardor that would do honor to the freest State in the world,” wrote a historian who met Venezuelan revolutionist Francisco de Miranda. Indeed Miranda died for freedom as he paved the way for Latin American independence from Spanish rule.