How was Latin American Romanticism connected to independence movements from Spain?

Latin American Romanticism was deeply intertwined with the region's struggle for independence from Spain, serving as both a celebration of newfound sovereignty and a tool for nation-building.1

The movement was coeval with the independence era, and many early writers used Romantic themes to champion the cause of national liberation. For example, the Cuban poet José María de Heredia combined a Romantic emotional intensity with a fierce espousal of independence, while the Ecuadorian José Joaquín de Olmedo wrote odes praising the heroes of South American independence, such as Simón Bolívar.1

Following independence, Romanticism evolved to address the internal political realities of the new nations. Intellectuals like the Argentine Esteban Echeverría utilized Romantic literature to promote democracy and critique the domestic despotism that often replaced colonial rule. Writers sought to define a national identity by focusing on local landscapes, regional human types, and cultural critiques, as seen in Domingo Faustino Sarmiento's influential work on the tension between "civilization and barbarism". Ultimately, the movement provided a framework for these emerging countries to articulate their distinct cultures and political aspirations.1