How Did The Enlightenment Influence The Mexican Revolution

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In ancient Greece, the rise of rationalism and philosophy brought about drastic societal changes, such as the introduction of democracy and rapid increases in wealth and culture. Likewise, the ideas of the Enlightenment were crucial in catalyzing some independence movements in the Americas, particularly the Venezuelan and Mexican Revolutions. While the leaders of both revolutions, Simón Bolívar and Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, were familiar with Enlightenment ideals, it has been argued that Hidalgo was more motivated by his opposition to poverty. However, the large impact of the Enlightenment on the political viewpoints of Bolívar and Hidalgo confirms it as a primary cause of the Venezuelan and Mexican revolutions.
William Butler Yeats once said that “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” Simón Bolívar, a wealthy Venezuelan creole, had been exposed to Enlightenment ideas since early childhood. He was tutored by a well-read admirer of Rousseau, and subsequently grew up to admire many other Enlightenment philosophers. Like other affluent creole heirs, Bolívar was sent to Europe to complete his education and became inspired by the success of the French Revolution while there. When he returned to Caracas, he joined other Creole militia officers who …show more content…
It brought about a new order that would inspire significant and lasting social change throughout the world. Economic connections between Latin America and Europe facilitated the spread of Enlightenment ideas, which incited independence movements in Mexico and Venezuela. Without exposure to ideas like liberty and individualism, neither Bolívar nor Hidalgo would have had the capacity and motivation to start revolutions. Therefore, the ideals of the Enlightenment were incontrovertibly a significant catalyst for independence movements in Venezuela and

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