Question

How did the Napoleonic Wars contribute to revolutions across South America?

The wars weakened Spain's connection to the colonies, causing upper-class colonists to begin self-rule.

The wars strengthened the Spanish military and led Spain to send more military forces to the colonies.

The wars led to the overthrow of Spain's royal family, and colonists demanded they take back rule.

The wars led to expenses for Spain, so the Spanish tried to sell its colonies to pay its debts

Answer 1

The Napoleonic Wars weakened Spanish control over its American colonies and spurred Enlightenment ideals, encouraging Creole classes to establish self-rule and pursue independence. By 1824, these efforts led to most of Central and South America gaining independence from Spain.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Napoleonic Wars significantly contributed to the wave of revolutions across South America by weakening Spain's grip on its colonies. When Napoleon Bonaparte captured Spain in 1808 and replaced the Spanish king with his brother Joseph Bonaparte, Spanish-American colonies began to question their allegiance. The local juntas that formed in the Americas served as new governing bodies, effectively beginning the process of self-rule. Moreover, the ideals of the Enlightenment and the principles of self-determination spread among the educated Creole class, stirring desires for independence and for the rights to free trade, tax revenue control, and local governance.

As resistance to French control grew in Spain, Spanish colonists in the Americas seized this moment of upheaval to assert their own identity and pursue autonomy. Napoleon's occupation disrupted the traditional colonial order, encouraging colonists to pursue independence movements. By 1824, this led to the success of anti-Spanish uprisings, such as those in Argentina, setting a precedent for freedom across Central and South America