1760s               Bourbon Reforms
1780s               Tupac Amaru rebellion (40,000-60,000 Andean Indians)
1791-1804       Haitian Revolution
1807                 the Spanish Bourbons fall captive to Napoleon
                         the royal family of Portugal (the Braganzas) flee to Brazil
1808                 Napoleon makes Joseph Bonaparte king of Spain
                         the provinces of the Peninsula form the Junta Central in an effort to oust Napoleon
1809                 the American kingdoms are invited to elect representatives to the Junta Central
1810                 the Junta Central convenes a national assembly, the Cortes, with Amer representatives
                     dissolution of the Junta Central                 
                         Argentina removes itself from royal control
1810-1813       insurrection in Mexico led by Father Miguel Hidalgo and Father Jose Maria Morelos
1811                Bolivar leads a rebellion in Venezuela
1812                Charter of Cadiz (the Constitution of 1812)
                             abolishes seigniorial institutions, the Inquisition, Indian tribute, forced labor
                             asserts the state’s control over the curch
                             creates a unitary state with uniform laws
                             restricts the authority of the king
                             entrusts the Cortes with decisive power
                             enfranchises all adult men, except those of African ancestry
1812-1814      War of 1812 between the US and Britain (cession of Florida from Spain)
1813                the Supreme National American Congress in Mexico declares independence
1814               Ferdinand VII restored but he makes no concessions to American demands
1815               final defeat of Napoleon and the Congress of Vienna
1816               Argentina formally declares independence
1817               Jose de San Martin makes a surprise crossing of the high Andes passes into Chile
1818               San Martin drives the Spanish out of Chile
1819               Bolivar’s forces defeat the Spanish in Colombia
1820               liberals in Spain force the king to restore the Constitution
1821               the exiled Portuguese king returns to Lisbon
                       Bolivar’s forces defeat the Spanish in Venezuela
                       San Martin lands a navy (built with the help of the Chileans and US) in Lima
                       Mexico declares independence; recognized by Spain
1822               Brazil declares independence
                       Bolivar moves south through Ecuador and joins forces with San Martin
                       conservative forces in Europe squelch liberal revolutionaries in Spain
                       Congress of Verona
1823               Monroe Doctrine – attempts by Eur powers to return parts of America to colonial
                       status would be viewed as an unfriendly act by the US
1824               Bolivar crushes Spanish troops and liberates Peru