what was the sequnce of events that led to the liberation of spanish south america?

The sequence of events that led to the liberation of Spanish South America spanned several decades and involved numerous battles, political maneuvers, and influential figures. The broad outline of events is as follows:

1. Enlightenment and Revolution in Europe: The seeds for Latin American independence were sown during the Enlightenment in Europe, which promoted ideas of liberty, democracy, and national self-determination. The American Revolution (1776-1783) and the French Revolution (1789-1799) demonstrated that colonial rule could be successfully challenged.

2. Napoleon's Influence: The invasion of the Iberian Peninsula by Napoleon Bonaparte's French army in 1807-1808, which led to the abdication of the Spanish and Portuguese monarchies, created a power vacuum in the Spanish colonies.

3. Establishment of Juntas: Spanish Americans, affected by the lack of strong governance from Spain, began to form local governing councils (juntas) across the continent. These juntas initially claimed loyalty to the deposed King Ferdinand VII but eventually moved toward calls for independence.

4. Revolutionary Leaders: A number of charismatic and influential leaders emerged to lead the fight for independence. Among them were Simón Bolívar in the north and José de San Martín in the south. They are both revered as "Liberators" in South American history.

5. Campaigns of Liberation: Between 1810 and 1826, a series of military campaigns took place. José de San Martín led the southern liberation force, and his crossing of the Andes in 1817 to liberate Chile is renowned. He later sailed to Peru to continue his campaign. Meanwhile, Simón Bolívar led the northern campaign, notching significant victories in present-day Colombia, Venezuela, and eventually Ecuador.

6. Battle of Boyacá and Battle of Carabobo: Key battles such as the Battle of Boyacá (1819) in present-day Colombia and Battle of Carabobo (1821) in Venezuela were decisive in establishing independence for these territories.

7. Final Independence Efforts: The culmination of the various battlegrounds across the continent ultimately came following the Battle of Ayacucho in Peru in 1824, which was a decisive victory led by Bolívar's lieutenant, Antonio José de Sucre. It effectively ended Spanish rule on the continent.

8. Political Reorganization: Following military victories, the newly liberated regions faced the challenge of political reorganization, ultimately leading to the creation of the various independent nation-states that exist today.