<P> The Latin American Wars of Independence were the revolutions that took place during the late 18th and early 19th centuries and resulted in the creation of a number of independent countries in Latin America . These revolutions followed the American and French Revolutions , which had profound effects on the British , Spanish , Portuguese and French colonies in the Americas . Haiti , a French slave colony , was the first to follow the United States to independence , during the Haitian Revolution , which lasted from 1791 to 1804 . From this emerged Napoleon Bonaparte as French ruler , whose armies set out to conquer Europe , including Spain and Portugal in 1808 . The Peninsular War , which resulted from the Napoleonic occupation of Spain , caused Spanish Creoles in Spanish America to question their allegiance to Spain , stoking independence movements that culminated in the wars of independence , which lasted almost two decades . At the same time , the Portuguese monarchy relocated to Brazil during Portugal 's French occupation . After the royal court returned to Lisbon , the prince regent , Pedro , remained in Brazil and in 1822 successfully declared himself emperor of a newly independent Brazil . </P>
<P> The Latin American Wars of Independence were the revolutions that took place during the late 18th and early 19th centuries and resulted in the creation of a number of independent countries in Latin America . These revolutions followed the American and French Revolutions , which had profound effects on the British , Spanish , Portuguese and French colonies in the Americas . Haiti , a French slave colony , was the first to follow the United States to independence , during the Haitian Revolution , which lasted from 1791 to 1804 . From this emerged Napoleon Bonaparte as French ruler , whose armies set out to conquer Europe , including Spain and Portugal in 1808 . The Peninsular War , which resulted from the Napoleonic occupation of Spain , caused Spanish Creoles in Spanish America to question their allegiance to Spain , stoking independence movements that culminated in the wars of independence , which lasted almost two decades . At the same time , the Portuguese monarchy relocated to Brazil during Portugal 's French occupation . After the royal court returned to Lisbon , the prince regent , Pedro , remained in Brazil and in 1822 successfully declared himself emperor of a newly independent Brazil . </P>
the following event served as the spark for latin american independence movements
the following event served as the spark for latin american independence movements
The Peninsular War , which resulted from the Napoleonic occupation of Spain
The Peninsular War , which resulted from the Napoleonic occupation of Spain