the Haitian was ignited due to social tensions between French settlers and Gens de couleur (free people of color) as well as slaves, the Latin American revolution was caused due to Creoles (Euro-Americans) wanting to be independent from colonial officials from Spain and Portugal, but the French wanted to change the relationship between the rulers and those they governed and to redefine the nature or political power. They were different because the Haitian or Latin American revolution didn't have rulers that would had people want to change the relationship status, and the Haitian or Latin America started in 1791 and ended in 1804, the French started in 1789 and ended in 1799.
One of the advantages was the protection of the hills and mountains found in the peninsula. Another advantage was the 2 (two) large mountain ranges made it hard for people to come in and attack/invade.
The wealth of the states came from controlling the trade routes across the desert. Their power came from having large pack animals like camels and horses that were fast enough to keep a large empire under central control and were also useful in battle.