"Rarely has the story of Latin American independence been told so richly and with such a plurality of voices. Chambers and Chasteen have expertly woven a comprehensive yet accessible historical tapestry of primary sources to tell the story of the Wars for Independence. The editors recover fascinating, lesser-known voices—many of which appear in English for the first time here—and situate them alongside canonical sources in rewarding and surprising ways. This is an indispensable resource for students and scholars alike, and an invitation to critically rethink the multiple meanings and resonance of Latin American independence."
—Christopher Conway, The University of Texas at Arlington
eBook available for $13.50. Click HERE for more information.
Maps and illustrations are included, as are a chronology of the Wars for Independence, suggestions for further reading, and a thorough index.
Reviews:
"Rarely has the story of Latin American independence been told so richly and with such a plurality of voices. Chambers and Chasteen have expertly woven a comprehensive yet accessible historical tapestry of primary sources to tell the story of the Wars for Independence. The editors recover fascinating, lesser-known voices—many of which appear in English for the first time here—and situate them alongside canonical sources in rewarding and surprising ways. This is an indispensable resource for students and scholars alike, and an invitation to critically rethink the multiple meanings and resonance of Latin American independence."
—Christopher Conway, The University of Texas at Arlington
"This magnificent collection gives voice to the many peoples—women and men, Blacks and Whites, natives and newcomers—who watched, fought, fled, and most especially put pen to paper as the Iberian empires broke up. All of them bring history to life. The introductions to each document, themselves valuable little essays, will guide even the untutored through the complex labyrinth of Latin America’s first revolutions."
—Jeremy Adelman, Princeton University
Contents:
Acknowledgments; Preface; Chronology; Maps
Part One: The Colonial Experience
Introduction
1. A Colonial Memoir
Madame Mendeville Recalls Viceregal Buenos Aires
2. A Scholarly Polemic
Clavijero Refutes the Myth of Americano Inferiority
3. Documents from a Rebellion
Túpac Amaru Sparks an Indigenous Uprising in Peru
4. Minutes of a Meeting
Guatemala’s Friends of the Country Host a Patriotic Gala
5. A Protest to the King
The Caracas City Council Obeys but Does Not Execute
6. Papers of a Career Revolutionary
Miranda Hatches Proposals and Plans in London
7. A Song for América
An Echo of the French Revolution Reaches Venezuela
8. An Open Letter to América
Viscardo Calls for Continental Independence
9. Documents from Brazilian Conspiracies
Tooth-Pullers and Tailors Are Caught in the Act
Part Two: The Crucible of War
Introduction
10. A Letter to the Editor
Mier Writes to El Español
11. A Liberal Blueprint for the Spanish World
The Cádiz Constitution of 1812
12. Broadsides from the War
Fighting Begins in New Spain
13. A Proclamation of Total War
Fighting Intensifies in Venezuela
14. Editorials from the Revolutionary Press
The Buenos Aires Junta Finds Its Voice
15. Federalist Papers from the Far South
Artigas Takes a Stand in Uruguay
16. Family Correspondence from Exile
Letters among Chile’s Carreras
17. A Refugee’s Petition
Bolívar’s Sister Shows Her Royalist Colors
18. Bolívar’s Vision of an Orderly Republic
The Angostura Address
19. A Patriot War Diary
Drummer Vargas Recounts the Guerrilla War in Upper Peru
20. The Literature of Political Outreach
The Gaucho Persona in the Río de la Plata
21. Diplomatic Reports from Rio de Janeiro
The Austrian Ambassador Writes to Metternich
22. A Vote against Ratification
Brother Caneca Criticizes Brazil’s Proposed Constitution
23. Memoir of the Final Battle at Ayacucho
John Miller Publishes the Account of His Brother the General
Part Three: Nations and Commemorations
Introduction
24. A Diplomatic Proposal
Bolívar’s Confederation Initiative
25. Claims on Independence
Petitioners and Others Invoke the Republican Cause
26. The Padilla Affair
Racial Politics in Colombia, 1828
27. Bylaws of a Women’s Political Society
The New Amazons of Pará
28. Commemorative Verse
Chileans Find New Meaning in Chacabuco
29. Speeches for Independence Day
A National Ritual in Mexico and Elsewhere
30. A Historian’s Assessment
Lucas Alamán Reaches Dark Conclusions
31. Biography as History
Mitre Compares San Martín and Bolívar
32. A Traditional View of Patriot Women
Palma Portrays Sáenz and Campusano
33. A Fictional Retrospective
Ismael by Acevedo Díaz
34. A Final Fictional Retrospective
The Red Lances by Uslar Pietri
Further Reading in English
Index
About the Authors:
Sarah C. Chambers is Associate Professor of History, University of Minnesota.
John Charles Chasteen is Patterson Distinguished Term Professor of History, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.