Question: how did latin america gain independence from spain

title: Latin American wars of independence
text: With loyalists displaying the same passion and violence , the rebels achieved only short - lived victories . The army led by the loyalist José Tomás Boves demonstrated the key military role that the Llaneros came to play in the region 's struggle . Turning the tide against independence , these highly mobile , ferocious fighters made up a formidable military force that pushed Bolívar out of his home country once more . In 1814 , heavily reinforced Spanish forces in Venezuela lost a series of battles to Bolívar 's forces but then decisively defeated Bolivar at La Puerta on June 15 , took Caracas on July 16 , and again defeated his army at Aragua on August 18 , at a cost of 2,000 Spanish casualties out of 10,000 soldiers as well as most of the 3,000 in the rebel army . Bolívar and other leaders then returned to New Granada . Later that year the largest expeditionary force ever sent by Spain to America arrived under the command of Pablo Morillo . This force effectively replaced the improvised llanero units , who were disbanded by Morillo .