Henry Clay And Spanish American Liberation Movement (1815-1822)

The Latin American colonists revolted the national liberation movement against Spanish colonial rule in the early nineteenth century. With the rapid development of national independence movement, how to deal with newly independent Latin American nations was a big question before American government. House speaker Henry Clay as a determined advocate on Spanish American liberation in American government, he played a very important role in U.S.-Latin American relations during this period. He exerted significant influence in U.S.-Latin American policymaking because of having been long called for American government to support and recognize independent powers. This thesis explores the factors affecting Henry Clay's attitude toward Spanish American liberation movement and reveals his real reason for supporting Latin American independence and his devotion to promoting America to admit Latin American independent states on the basis of documents.