In an essay identifying the causes of independence movements in Latin America and the Caribbean, the student would most appropriately include Enlightenment ideas. The Enlightenment emphasized concepts such as liberty, equality, and democratic governance, which inspired many leaders and thinkers in the region to seek independence from colonial rule.
While the other options may have some relevance to the broader context of social and political conditions, they are not primary causes of independence movements in this specific context. For example, the presence of slavery was a factor in certain movements but not a cause of independence itself, and religious persecution was more context-specific rather than a widespread cause. Decentralized government pertains to governance structures but doesn't directly address the primary motivations for independence.