What was happening to European colonies in the Western Hemisphere?

In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, European colonies in the Western Hemisphere were experiencing significant upheaval due to a wave of independence movements. Inspired by Enlightenment ideals and the success of the American Revolution, colonies in regions such as Latin America began to seek autonomy from European powers like Spain and Portugal. This led to a series of revolutions, resulting in the establishment of independent nations across the continent. The decline of European colonial authority was marked by both political change and social unrest, fundamentally reshaping the geopolitical landscape of the region.