Most of us who are interested in the Latin American Wars of Independence have probably asked, Why did some African-descended slaves and indigenous peoples not join the Creole revolutionaries? They were led, after all, by such charismatic leaders as Simón Bolívar, who championed freedom, independence, equality, rights, and many other benefits in overthrowing the tyrannical Spanish monarchy. Would it not have been in everyone’s benefit—Creoles, slaves, and Indians—to join hands in declaring independence, just as occurred in North America during the American Revolution? Not all English descendants, however, were enamored with overthrowing king and Parliament, and many of the Indians—Cherokees and others—threw in their lot with the English. The question of sides becomes even messier in the Latin American Wars of Independence simply because of the multitude of peoples, stretched from New Spain to Tierra del Fuego, who were players in this gigantic chess game of revolution and war.
Echeverri’s...