Key Terms

Cádiz Cortes

the central Spanish junta established in the city of Cádiz that coordinated Spanish resistance to the French occupation

creoles

in Spanish colonies, American-born White people of European descent

Grito de Dolores

the “cry” of Dolores, Miguel Hidalgo’s declaration of rebellion made in the town of Dolores on September 16, 1810

Grito do Ipiranga

the “cry” of Ipiranga, Pedro I’s declaration of Brazilian independence, made at the Ipiranga River in 1822

intendancy system

the centralizing administrative system in Spanish America whereby local governments were run by governors

juntas

deliberative or administrative councils in Spain and Spanish America

llaneros

cowboys of the Venezuelan plains

Monroe Doctrine

a principle of U.S. foreign policy that warned European nations to refrain from interfering with independent countries in the Western Hemisphere

peninsulares

in Spanish colonies, European-born White people from Spain

Plan de Iguala

Agustín de Iturbide’s proclamation of independence creating a constitutional monarchy and protecting both the Catholic Church and Europeans living in Mexico

viceroyalty

an administrative subdivision of the Spanish Empire, ruled by a direct representative of the king

Virgin of Guadalupe

the apparition of the Virgin Mary who is said to have appeared to the Aztec peasant Juan Diego and later became the national symbol and patron saint of Mexico