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Latin American History Makers

Jean-Jacques Dessalines was a leader of the Haitian Revolution and the first ruler of an independent Haiti. In 1791, Jean-Jacques Dessalines joined the slave rebellion led by Jean François and Georges Biassou. This rebellion was the first action of what would become the Haitian Revolution. During the March 11th, 1802 battle, Dessalines and his 1,300 men defended a small fort against 18,000 attackers. To motivate his troops at the start of the battle, he waved a lit torch near an open powder keg and declared that he would blow the fort up should the French break through. Dessaline would later lead the slave army after Toussaint signed a treaty with the French leaders and was later kidnapped and shipped to France.

On December 4, 1803, the French colonial army of Napoleon Bonaparte surrendered its last remaining territory to Dessalines' forces, officially ending the only successful slave rebellion in world history. On January 1st, 1804 from the city of Gonaïves, Dessalines officially declared the former colony's independence, renaming it "Haiti" after the indigenous Arawak name.

José María Morelos was one of the main early leaders of Mexico's struggle for independence from Spain. At the age of 33, he was ordained as a Roman Catholic priest. In 1810, he joined the rebellion against Spain called for by Miguel Hidalgo. After Hidalgo was captured and executed, Morelos took over as the leader of the revolution. Morelos skillfully fought against the Viceroy's Spanish army, and captured the cities in Oaxaca (in 1812) and Acapulco, Mexico's main Pacific seaport, the following year.

However, the Criollo Army captured Morelos and turned him over to Spanish forces. He was shot as a traitor at the village of San Cristóbal Ecatepec (today, San Cristóbal Ecatepec de Morelos.) His lieutenant Vicente Guerrero continued the fight after his death. José María Morelos is a national hero of Mexico. In addition to the city of Morelia, the state of Morelos was named after him.

Questions:

1.  What was Dessalines first action in the rebellion?

2.  How did he motivate his troops?

3.  When did he take over the slave army?

4.  What did he rename the colony and why?

5.  When did Morelos take over the rebellion in Mexico?

6.  What victories did Morelos have?

7.  What eventually happened to Morelos?

8.  How is he honored in Mexico today?