Final answer:
Nationalistic leaders in Mexico and South America like Simón Bolívar and José de San Martín led independence movements that sought to break colonial rule and reshape their economies and governance, despite facing multiple challenges including geographic distances and lack of popular support.
Step-by-step explanation:
Nationalistic leaders in Mexico and South America had a significant impact on independence movements in those regions, as well as the populations therein. Leaders such as Simón Bolívar and José de San Martín, known as the libertadores, led military operations to gain control over royalist strongholds and spread the concept of independence through South America. These independence movements sought to break away from mercantilist, parent-country rule, which inhibited the growth of their colonial economies.
Notably, these movements encountered numerous challenges. The leaders struggled with vast geographic distances, natural obstacles, and the economic and cultural isolation of different areas. Moreover, initiatives were sometimes hindered by a lack of popular support, forcing the leaders to negotiate their progress carefully, as well as the absence of external aid.
The consequences of these efforts led to significant changes, including the opening up of markets to global trade, the reduction in colonial administrators, and the establishment of local governance. The Latino independence movements drew inspiration from various international events, particularly the Enlightenment ideals that influenced the American and French revolutions, stimulating a desire for political and systemic changes.