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Pivotal Moments in World History
Americanos: Latin America's Struggle for Independence
A premier volume in Oxford's Pivotal Moments in World History series, Americanos offers an engagingly written, compact history of the Latin American wars of independence. Proceeding almost cinematically, scene by vivid scene, John Charles Chasteen introduces the reader to lead players, basic concepts, key events, and dominant trends, braided together in a single, taut narrative. He vividly depicts the individuals and events of those tumultuous years, capturing the gathering forces for independence, the clashes of troops and decisions of leaders, and the rich, elaborate tapestry of Latin American societies as they embraced nationhood.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published January 28, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
July 31, 2008
Do not judge this book by the overly academic prologue. It actually gets off to a great start, with an account of Humboldt's adventures in the Americas. And a great job of setting up the cause of these simultaneous revolutions. But the format of telling it chronologically, and in multiple locations, just wore me out. Here we have Hidalgo's and Morelos's battles in Mexico! Meanwhile, Bolivar is in Venezuela! Oh, and over in Buenos Aires... I wanted to love it, but after two-thirds I couldn't go further.
August 12, 2024
Just finished:
"Americanos: Latin America's Struggle for Independence"
By: John Charles Chasteen
Covers Latin America's struggle for independence from Spain and Portugal (wasn't known as Latin America at the time; more focused on the Spanish colonies). The author argues that while the revolutionaries held republican values, they did not realize the ideas they held to until the twentieth century. While revolution brought more rights for Europeans, Americanos, and indigenous people, it left blacks behind (slavery didn't end in Brazil until 1880). It took disposed monarchs in the respective motherlands to cause revolt.
Interesting read. Found out Bolivar and San Martin both had TB.
"Americanos: Latin America's Struggle for Independence"
By: John Charles Chasteen
Covers Latin America's struggle for independence from Spain and Portugal (wasn't known as Latin America at the time; more focused on the Spanish colonies). The author argues that while the revolutionaries held republican values, they did not realize the ideas they held to until the twentieth century. While revolution brought more rights for Europeans, Americanos, and indigenous people, it left blacks behind (slavery didn't end in Brazil until 1880). It took disposed monarchs in the respective motherlands to cause revolt.
Interesting read. Found out Bolivar and San Martin both had TB.
October 28, 2020
Before reading this one I knew next to nothing about the subject indicated by the book's title. Now I know much more, and I learned it painlessly, enjoyably because Chasteen knows how to tell a good story. The emphasis of the book is less straight historical than bio-historical. You learn what happened by learning who caused it, who managed it, who carried it through, and, ultimately, who paid for it. If you're looking for a comprehensive narrative of Latin American events during the late-18th and early-19th centuries, you'll need to look elsewhere. If you want a survey of events as illuminated through the lives of those most deeply and publicly involved, give this book a shot.
February 22, 2024
I enjoyed this book. I read it as intended as an introduction to this period. The pictures, timelines, and stories were all very helpful. Obviously it is supposed to be an introduction for English speakers on Latin America’s Wars of Independence.
I find it so odd that readers on GoodReads are so critical of academic works, though most have never even tried to put anything together. You will see 3 star reviews that bring up obvious critiques (like it’s tough to encapsulate every independence struggle in one work..duh) or even state they enjoyed the book but it’s academic intro was slow as if academics was meant to keep the pace with fan fiction (3 stars). This is why Goodreads is great for fiction and books people have read a lot but not for less known works.
This book is great as an introduction and great to look back at later!
I find it so odd that readers on GoodReads are so critical of academic works, though most have never even tried to put anything together. You will see 3 star reviews that bring up obvious critiques (like it’s tough to encapsulate every independence struggle in one work..duh) or even state they enjoyed the book but it’s academic intro was slow as if academics was meant to keep the pace with fan fiction (3 stars). This is why Goodreads is great for fiction and books people have read a lot but not for less known works.
This book is great as an introduction and great to look back at later!
Read
November 25, 2024my favorite part was when humboldt and bonpland were trying to get to cuba from venezuela but couldn’t find passage with the spanish because the british navy ruled the water so after four months they boarded a smuggling skiff shuttling between venezuela and trinidad but soon into the trip the skiff was taken over by nova scotia privateers working for the british who deposited humboldt and bonpland aboard a british navel sloop whose captain had heard about their scientific expedition and was a fan so he sent them back to venezuela where they had to wait until a neutral u.s. cargo ship carrying beef jerky finally took them to cuba (which they found scientifically disappointing). fact is indeed oftentimes funnier than fiction 😂😂
August 5, 2018
It is an understatement to say it is no easy task to summarize the events resulting in independence for not just one or two parts of Latin America, but the entire region. The result is a valuable attempt at a basic narrative of the events from approx. 1800 to 1825 that made the vast majority of the region free from direct control by its European colonizers and begin to think of government in vastly different terms. Aimed at readers who probably know little about these events, the book also works for anyone wishing to refresh her/his knowledge and provides many suggestions of additional reading if any part of the narrative excites you.
Chasteen chose to write primarily in chronological order, meaning he gives brief snippets of events in one location, then in another, and another, and so on. This certainly helps to put events across the region into context with each other, I am not sold on this as the best method to tell the history. One reason for this is Chasteen does not always make clear how events in one location affects those in another -- if they did at all (except for how events in Europe affected those in Latin America). The movements in each region are sometimes vastly different and except for timing, it is not easy to always conclude how they are related (if at all). The method also makes it difficult to follow the named persons of each narrative, and gosh are there a lot of them. He provides a helpful listing of the names (and some pictures) at the beginning of the book, but the minute details he sometimes goes into, and including persons that only appear for a page or two in the entire book (or once every 15 pages), makes it extremely difficult to follow.
When Chasteen moves away from the narrative, he is at his best. His explanation of the movements in terms of the PR campaign of "Americanos," how that worked during the movements and then lost its power afterwards, and explanation of the connections of it to the ideas of republicanism and popular sovereignty explain a lot when it comes to how and why the independence movements happened, failed, and then worked. Balancing the "Americanos" with the arguments and actions of those who did not want independence (especially once the Spanish begin sending armies) would have provided a more complete picture.
One item I found perplexing: I agree independence was a surprise and those who led it were a minority group in their regions. But, once things began, "republicanists" and "patriots" (and educated ones) seem to appear everywhere -- as do the, at the time radical, ideas of revolution -- -and they organize quickly and well. Just how this happened, and the seemingly preexistence of these organizations/ideas/people, is not fully explained.
Chasteen chose to write primarily in chronological order, meaning he gives brief snippets of events in one location, then in another, and another, and so on. This certainly helps to put events across the region into context with each other, I am not sold on this as the best method to tell the history. One reason for this is Chasteen does not always make clear how events in one location affects those in another -- if they did at all (except for how events in Europe affected those in Latin America). The movements in each region are sometimes vastly different and except for timing, it is not easy to always conclude how they are related (if at all). The method also makes it difficult to follow the named persons of each narrative, and gosh are there a lot of them. He provides a helpful listing of the names (and some pictures) at the beginning of the book, but the minute details he sometimes goes into, and including persons that only appear for a page or two in the entire book (or once every 15 pages), makes it extremely difficult to follow.
When Chasteen moves away from the narrative, he is at his best. His explanation of the movements in terms of the PR campaign of "Americanos," how that worked during the movements and then lost its power afterwards, and explanation of the connections of it to the ideas of republicanism and popular sovereignty explain a lot when it comes to how and why the independence movements happened, failed, and then worked. Balancing the "Americanos" with the arguments and actions of those who did not want independence (especially once the Spanish begin sending armies) would have provided a more complete picture.
One item I found perplexing: I agree independence was a surprise and those who led it were a minority group in their regions. But, once things began, "republicanists" and "patriots" (and educated ones) seem to appear everywhere -- as do the, at the time radical, ideas of revolution -- -and they organize quickly and well. Just how this happened, and the seemingly preexistence of these organizations/ideas/people, is not fully explained.
May 6, 2013
This book is perfect for you, if you, like me, recognize names of South American history but can't identify them. It's also perfect for you, if you, like me, have wondered how the US became a sea to sea country and to the south, a number countries were formed from only two monarchies.
The professor cuts away the details. He tells the stories behind the famous names. He explains the significance of the famous places. He gives both characters and places shading. He notes the women and their influence. He tells what became of these leaders once the revolutions were complete.
What is amazing is how in such a compressed time, so many independent actions had similar results. It is also amazing how poorly the revolutionaries fared after they accomplished so much.
Readers learn how events in Europe affected the direction of the Spanish and Portuguese colonies. In the last chapter, the author ties up the centuries showing how the conservatism reflected in early patriots "wearing the mask of Ferdinand" remained in the culture retarding the full promise of democracy by electing leaders representing the ruling class.
If you know about this history, this is not the book for you. But if your knowledge is sketchy, you can get a footing in this short quick read.
The professor cuts away the details. He tells the stories behind the famous names. He explains the significance of the famous places. He gives both characters and places shading. He notes the women and their influence. He tells what became of these leaders once the revolutions were complete.
What is amazing is how in such a compressed time, so many independent actions had similar results. It is also amazing how poorly the revolutionaries fared after they accomplished so much.
Readers learn how events in Europe affected the direction of the Spanish and Portuguese colonies. In the last chapter, the author ties up the centuries showing how the conservatism reflected in early patriots "wearing the mask of Ferdinand" remained in the culture retarding the full promise of democracy by electing leaders representing the ruling class.
If you know about this history, this is not the book for you. But if your knowledge is sketchy, you can get a footing in this short quick read.
September 20, 2012
Chasteen took on quite a challenge with this book: trying to weave together the stories of many different independence movements throughout Latin America. He tried to keep the reader in touch with the different stories by constantly switching narratives, following Simon Bolivar, Jose de San Martin, events in Brazil, etc. Chasteen is a good writer and there is a lot of good information in the book, but I found it very difficult to follow.
It's possible that I tried to read it too fast, and I may go back to it if I teach Latin American history in the future.
It's possible that I tried to read it too fast, and I may go back to it if I teach Latin American history in the future.
March 15, 2017
It's actually by Enrique Krauze, one of Mexico's leading journalists. Chasteen is the translator. Best book imaginable about the independence movements in New Spain at the beginning of the 19th century.
October 19, 2022
I didn't realize how little of Latin American History I had missed until I read this book.
The impetus for me reading this was a recent trip to Colombia. I had a fascination with Simon Bolivar, and reddit recommended that this was the most neutral source on the topic. Yet again, that random anon reddit poster was probably right. This book tore down my preconceptions of what Bolivar really stood for - while he played a significant role in the fight for republican ideals, he fundamentally did not chase more democratic implementations. Towards the end of his reign he quite literally becomes a monarch. Despite this, his admiration is probably still justified due to his conviction and liberation of much of northern south america. In many ways those around him are much more interesting characters to follow(His girlfriend Manuela, His mentor Simon Rodriguez, and other Colombian political figures.)
This book also makes a good attempt at explaining the pervasive conservatism of the continent as well. Socially and religious practices to this day are rather conservative compared to much of the west, and there are deep tribal reasons for such to this day. I eventually will spend more time diving down these rabbit holes, particularly because this is an area of history not often discussed.
As a history book, this piece is probably slightly above average... the end of the book is a bit rambly and there are clearly some stories not well cited, but with that being said, the major themes of LATAM from the 18th to 20th century are discussed at length with plenty of nuance. There are many main characters in south america that are reminants of what created western culture today.
If you are interested in south american history, or ever plan to travel there, this book can offer a lot of context as an introduction to a culture that smells of western ideals but isnt quite the same.
The impetus for me reading this was a recent trip to Colombia. I had a fascination with Simon Bolivar, and reddit recommended that this was the most neutral source on the topic. Yet again, that random anon reddit poster was probably right. This book tore down my preconceptions of what Bolivar really stood for - while he played a significant role in the fight for republican ideals, he fundamentally did not chase more democratic implementations. Towards the end of his reign he quite literally becomes a monarch. Despite this, his admiration is probably still justified due to his conviction and liberation of much of northern south america. In many ways those around him are much more interesting characters to follow(His girlfriend Manuela, His mentor Simon Rodriguez, and other Colombian political figures.)
This book also makes a good attempt at explaining the pervasive conservatism of the continent as well. Socially and religious practices to this day are rather conservative compared to much of the west, and there are deep tribal reasons for such to this day. I eventually will spend more time diving down these rabbit holes, particularly because this is an area of history not often discussed.
As a history book, this piece is probably slightly above average... the end of the book is a bit rambly and there are clearly some stories not well cited, but with that being said, the major themes of LATAM from the 18th to 20th century are discussed at length with plenty of nuance. There are many main characters in south america that are reminants of what created western culture today.
If you are interested in south american history, or ever plan to travel there, this book can offer a lot of context as an introduction to a culture that smells of western ideals but isnt quite the same.
July 24, 2021
Like some novels, this's a good tale told too briefly to fully enjoy it. And I see why - this'd be too short a book to fully tell the (US-)American Revolution, and Latin America's struggle spanned a much longer time and geographic area. It was recommended on /r/AskHistorians as a good introduction, and it is - I now have an outline that I can go to other books to fill in.
Of course, while reading, I had the United States' revolution in the back of my mind as a comparison point. The biggest difference - which Chasteen points out several times - is that Latin America had next to no self-government and no national identity. Even before people in the Thirteen Colonies thought of themselves as Americans, they'd identify as Virginians or Pennsylvanians or whatever other colony. But in Latin America, next to no one (especially among the lower classes) would consider themselves a Venezuelan or Peruvian or whatever. They'd instead identify with their social or ethnic class and have no idea or care about self-government, which divisions hugely hurt the revolutions.
Of course, while reading, I had the United States' revolution in the back of my mind as a comparison point. The biggest difference - which Chasteen points out several times - is that Latin America had next to no self-government and no national identity. Even before people in the Thirteen Colonies thought of themselves as Americans, they'd identify as Virginians or Pennsylvanians or whatever other colony. But in Latin America, next to no one (especially among the lower classes) would consider themselves a Venezuelan or Peruvian or whatever. They'd instead identify with their social or ethnic class and have no idea or care about self-government, which divisions hugely hurt the revolutions.
October 10, 2022
Realistically this book is probably fine. In fact, it is probably excellent.
I read this book for a class. I did not pick this book up for my own personal enjoyment. Yes, it was interesting. No, it was not easy to understand. The book goes in such a random order of events that is hard to understand. There is so much going on in Latin America in the early 1800s that for the author to jump back and forth between countries over and over again was hard to keep up. I had to try to remember who was who every ten pages because by the time I would learn about so-and-so from Venezuela I had already forgotten about who was running Mexico. Then I would have to go back in my notes to read a synopsis of Hidalgo before reading the next ten pages about his retreat from Mexico City. And then we're back to Venezuela! Please tell me about each of the countries individually.
I have now watched about five CrashCourse or other YouTube videos to remember who everyone was.
I read this book for a class. I did not pick this book up for my own personal enjoyment. Yes, it was interesting. No, it was not easy to understand. The book goes in such a random order of events that is hard to understand. There is so much going on in Latin America in the early 1800s that for the author to jump back and forth between countries over and over again was hard to keep up. I had to try to remember who was who every ten pages because by the time I would learn about so-and-so from Venezuela I had already forgotten about who was running Mexico. Then I would have to go back in my notes to read a synopsis of Hidalgo before reading the next ten pages about his retreat from Mexico City. And then we're back to Venezuela! Please tell me about each of the countries individually.
I have now watched about five CrashCourse or other YouTube videos to remember who everyone was.
February 23, 2025
Somehow, for some reason, the history of Spain and its colonies is entirely absent from Swedish education. Everything from the Moorish conquest, to the reconquista, to the independence movement apparently does not fit. Consequentially, I came into this book with zero background knowledge, and so, pretty much everything was new information.
Not knowing anything else, I would say this is a very nuanced tale of Latin American independence. It emphasizes the role of general public opinion, and avoids over-focusing on particular heroes by including tons of different agents in the narrative. This does make it somewhat difficult to keep track of everyone, but does, on the other hand, protect me (hopefully) from more naïve versions of events.
A good introductory work which I should probably read again at some time, hopefully understanding it better at that point.
Not knowing anything else, I would say this is a very nuanced tale of Latin American independence. It emphasizes the role of general public opinion, and avoids over-focusing on particular heroes by including tons of different agents in the narrative. This does make it somewhat difficult to keep track of everyone, but does, on the other hand, protect me (hopefully) from more naïve versions of events.
A good introductory work which I should probably read again at some time, hopefully understanding it better at that point.
October 1, 2025
I enjoyed this historical account of Latin America (Americanos). It's written in a casual narrative style making it more interesting and engaging. Maps and portraits are included in this book, but it would be better to have the subject-relevant images inserted into the appropriate place within the text, rather than as a gallery section separate from the text. Notation of the provenance of the maps and portraits, as well as the current location of the portraits would be helpful.
January 31, 2018
Brain Food: Hearty Salad
Scandal Level: nihl
Violence: historical descriptions of revolts and revolutions.
Must be ___ old to read: 16
Read if you liked: The Ugly Suitor
Re-readability: maybe
Thoughts: A fascinating and well written survey of the revolutions in Latin America. Interesting and something I did not known much about.
Scandal Level: nihl
Violence: historical descriptions of revolts and revolutions.
Must be ___ old to read: 16
Read if you liked: The Ugly Suitor
Re-readability: maybe
Thoughts: A fascinating and well written survey of the revolutions in Latin America. Interesting and something I did not known much about.
January 19, 2018
Not very well organized and difficult to follow. It does have facts that appear to be correct, but mostly it’s presented more as a series of disjointed anecdotes.
December 11, 2018
I read this for a graduate history course.
June 18, 2020
As an Asian with literally no knowledge of the Latinos' land, this book filled me with a colorful background of its history, concisely (but sometimes overly informed) and comprehensively.
October 7, 2024
The information is interesting, but it meanders and really doesn’t have a cohesive nature which makes it difficult to follow.
July 22, 2025
Information and structure of the timeline of the Latin American independence movement was well constructed but the overall book lack storytelling. The average textbook has more storytelling.
December 3, 2025
It was an oversight on my part, not knowing much of this history. It was incredibly eye-opening (and somewhat depressing) to read. Ours is a history of subjugation and violence
May 20, 2018
My grandson has a wry sense of humor. I helped him with a history paper on Simon Bolivar, and for my birthday he wrapped up the three books he had used! I like this one (haven't read the others); but Chasteen jumps around from one country, one revolutionary to another so I now and then got confused.
August 27, 2013
Americanos was a really really frustrating (though interesting) read. Dry at times, compelling at others, the book swung from one branch to another on the tree of the reader’s opinions. It zoomed from one topic to the next and back again, giving me some amount of trouble with the continuity. However, it was definitely an interesting topic, which made it worth the long literary trek.
Honestly, I feel that there isn’t much to say. The book was dry but (somehow) interesting- the information could have been presented in a way that wasn’t so boring, but it is an academic text, and it isn’t made to entertain students but to teach them. I did learn about the independence struggles in Latin America as well as a little of the required background. I was surprised that no one had predicted the revolutionary spirit that overtook most of Latin America- for example Humboldt, when visiting in his great travels, later said he had no idea that there would be such unrest in the country to trigger a revolution. Facts like that were interesting because though I knew a little about the revolutions before I read the book, I learned a lot about some of the smaller parts of what happened in that time period. I learned a lot from the book, I thought it was interesting enough that it made up for the dryness in the actual text, and I would probably read it again if I wanted to brush up on the subject.
Honestly, I feel that there isn’t much to say. The book was dry but (somehow) interesting- the information could have been presented in a way that wasn’t so boring, but it is an academic text, and it isn’t made to entertain students but to teach them. I did learn about the independence struggles in Latin America as well as a little of the required background. I was surprised that no one had predicted the revolutionary spirit that overtook most of Latin America- for example Humboldt, when visiting in his great travels, later said he had no idea that there would be such unrest in the country to trigger a revolution. Facts like that were interesting because though I knew a little about the revolutions before I read the book, I learned a lot about some of the smaller parts of what happened in that time period. I learned a lot from the book, I thought it was interesting enough that it made up for the dryness in the actual text, and I would probably read it again if I wanted to brush up on the subject.
January 16, 2012
Americanos by John Chasteen provides a great overview of the independence movement across Latin America and the major trends that emerged from it. As one of the kick off books to the Pivotal Moments in World History series which seeks to understand the major paradigm shifts that changed the course of world history this book earns its place. From the global political context with looking at the rise of Napoleon and the changing effect of European focus to the mixed populations that were beginning to form a middle class there were a wide number of reasons why independence movements grew in Latin America. Some were decades long struggles as in the case of Mexico where as some such as in Brazil came about in a shorter order. From the rise of Bolivar and the collapse of his Andean Federation to the multifaceted struggle in Mexico the reader can get a clear picture of Latin America. Overall very well done and worth the time to read. If anything the reader wishes for more details on the subject areas but given the usual trend of a pivotal moments book I don't think that is worth deducting a star for. Well worth the time for anyone wanting to learn more on Latin American independence whether they are an expert or just getting started.
September 7, 2008
Unlike the democracies of the United States and Western Europe, the budding nations had little to no experience in self government. Until the European political whirlwind of Napoleon Bonaparte scattered the monarchies of the Iberian peninsula; the Americanos of Latin America were content to be loyal subjects to their respected majesties of Portugal and Spain. But, by this unthroning, the Americano colonists were forced into the turblant waves of political uncertainty. The strange thing about independance; once experiencing even a small taste of it, a people won't normally resubmit themselves to yoke of distant authority. This book describes the birth pangs of a new people; no longer Spanish, but Americanos.
March 17, 2014
I got through this book well enough and learned about about Latin American history, but it was a chore. Despite the short length of the book, it took me about a month to get through. For me, the flaw was in the telling. Chasteen focused on the personae of the revolutionary movements in Latin America, and weaved in other aspects, but never truly fleshing out anything other than political and military movements, told through the actions of great men (and some women).
The style of this book reminds me of older, dense and dry texts, that although informative, do not hold the attention of the reader.
I would not recommend this book and am seeking something more engaging, and less "great man" focused.
The style of this book reminds me of older, dense and dry texts, that although informative, do not hold the attention of the reader.
I would not recommend this book and am seeking something more engaging, and less "great man" focused.
Read
October 2, 2015This book gives an account of the Latin American wars of independence, focusing especially on the unique personalities who helped make independence a reality. It is accessible and is an excellent place to start learning about the independence period. Because of its scope, the events in the book can get confusing at times. But then again, the revolutions were very confusing because so much was happening at once in different parts of Latin America. Keep in mind that this work surveys one particular historiographical view of independence by presenting the men and women at the top who led it politically and intellectually. Other interpretations of the period exist in specialist literature.
March 15, 2009
The book provides a good overview of the Revolutionary Era in Latin America and is reliable base for investigating the various struggles for independence in further detail. However, Chasteen could have better organized the book to make it more comprehensible, but overall he gave a good treatment of a very complex topic that has on-going implications.
February 8, 2013
Chasteen's narrative style is well-written, but at times the comments on emotions of different historical figures distracts from the historical facts (which can be an issue if you're reading for a class). Overall a good book, though. Nicely crafted around Humboldt which turns into a bit of a problem when he dies, though.
October 26, 2015
Quick tour d'force of Latin American independence movements. While there is a general narrative, it is broken substantially by geo-jumping throughout the hemisphere. The result of this for those unfamiliar with the pantheon of Latin American "founders" is confusion.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews