The oldest independence movement in the Americas?

Joined Nov 2017
234 Posts | 62+
Geneva, Switzerland
P.S . I asked this question here in the general forum because it includes south and north america
 
Joined Jul 2011
11,340 Posts | 2,849+
What do you mean by an independence movement? There was continued resistance to the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire.There was native American resistance to Spanish expansion, and to all of the newer colonial powers. There were several rebellions in British North America, but they were mostly aimed at colonial governors etc., not at British rule. Obviously the US 1775-1784 and Haiti 1791-1804 were successful, followed by many in Spanish America. Not sure if any independence movements as such before those.
 
Joined Nov 2017
234 Posts | 62+
Geneva, Switzerland
I am looking for a western movement and not a movement to resist colonization like the Neo-Incas
 
Joined Aug 2018
1,046 Posts | 611+
Southern Indiana
Richard Henderson attempted to buy a large portion of Kentucky from the Indians in 1775 and start an independent country.
 
Joined Jul 2011
11,340 Posts | 2,849+
There was a Puritan Rebellion against the Catholic hereditary governors of Maryland in 1655, Bacon's Rebellion against limitations on expanding the frontier in 1677, a rebellion against a Catholic Governor of New York appointed by James II, and various other rebellions. Some of these had the same underlying issues of the larger rebellion in Massachusetts in 1775.
 
Joined Jul 2011
11,340 Posts | 2,849+
There were several 17th century rebellions in different British colonies, but they weren't really independence movements. Some were against Roman Catholic or Anglican in New England governors after the more protestant side had won in England. The Navigation Acts were an issue in more than one rebellion. Bacon's Rebellion is Virginia was for attacking the native Americans and getting more land both for the wealthy and for freed indentured servants looking for farms.

The same issues were underlying causes of the American Revolution. Westward expansion was blocked by the Proclamation of 1763. The Navigation Acts were an issue. There were also religious issues of ending the establishment of the Anglican Church in many colonies and the enlarged Roman Catholic Quebec.

From Wikipedia about the Boston revolt of 1689. Successful rebellion against a governor appointed by James II (who had been removed in Britain). The Governor was pushing the Church of England.

"Andros was commissioned governor of New England in 1686. He had earned the enmity of the local populace by enforcing the restrictive Navigation Acts, denying the validity of existing land titles, restricting town meetings, and appointing unpopular regular officers to lead colonial militia, among other actions. Furthermore, he had infuriated Puritans in Boston by promoting the Church of England, which was rejected by many nonconformist New England colonists. "

There was also a temporarily successful rebellion in New York in 1689 against the Irish Catholic governor appointed by James II. The rebels ruled New York for 2 years until royal authority was restored.

There was a rebellion in North Carolina in 1677 against the Navigation Acts.
 

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