Final answer:
Latin America's independence movement was led by influential figures like Simón Bolívar and José de San Martín, as well as creole elites who sought to free their nations from colonial rule after the Napoleonic wars in Europe.
Step-by-step explanation:
The independence movement in Latin America was spearheaded by several pivotal figures and creole elites who played crucial roles in liberating their territories from colonial powers. Notably, leaders like Simón Bolívar and José de San Martín, referred to as libertadores (liberators), were instrumental in directing military operations that ultimately resulted in the independence of South American countries from Spanish and Portuguese rule.
These movements initiated after Napoleonic conquests in Europe, which led to the deposition of the hereditary Spanish king and the formation of juntas that ruled in the name of the deposed king.
Independence efforts were marked by complex internal dynamics, including divisions based on race and class, as well as struggles to form unified nations after achieving independence.