The Latin American wars of independence were a series of conflicts in the early 19th century where various countries in Latin America sought to gain independence from Spanish and Portuguese colonial rule. These wars were influenced by the American Revolution, the French Revolution, and the ideas of Enlightenment thinkers, leading to a desire for self-governance and freedom from colonial oppression. Key figures in these struggles included leaders like Simón Bolívar, José de San Martín, and Miguel Hidalgo. The wars resulted in the establishment of independent nations such as Mexico, Argentina, and Colombia, fundamentally changing the political landscape of the region and ending centuries of colonial dominance.