This history of Latin America during its period of independence has been revised and updated to include new material based on recently published research, as well as augmented references covering areas of special contemporary interest. The bibliography has also been updated.

This lively and accessible text on the period of independence (the nineteenth century) covering all the major countries of Latin America has become the standard work in the field. David Bushnell and Neill Macaulay focus on the preliminary experiments in nation-building throughout Latin America in this critical era and explore the attempts by most leaders to adopt a liberal mode of both socioeconomic and political development. For the second edition, the authors have added new material based on recently published research and augmented references to areas of special contemporary interest - racim, women and the environment. The bibliography also has been updated.