Chapter 9 Regionalism, War, and Reconstruction Politics and Economics, 1821-1880

Chapter 9

Regionalism, War, and Reconstruction

Politics and Economics, 1821-1880

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Dilemmas of Nationhood

• Who Governs and What Form of Government?– Three branches--executive, legislature, and

judiciary--with political participation limited

• Federalism/Centralism and Liberalism/Conservatism– Privileged groups distrusted lower classes

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The Challenge of Regionalism

• Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, and Central America– Required a series of civil wars to amalgamate

nations from their disparate regions– Buenos Aires & struggle for centralization– Regionalism– Central Americans struggle against each

other

The Challenge of Regionalism

• Brazil and Chile– Regional divisions– Regional leaders never ceased their

opposition to the nation’s first ruler– Pedro II became emperor at age 14– Regionalism determined Brazil’s political fate

© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

A Century of War

• Wars of Political Consolidation

• Intra-Regional Wars– War of the Triple Alliance & War of the Pacific

• Foreign Wars– The Mexican War with the United States

A Century of War

• Civil Wars– Brazil endured continuous rebellions– Struggles between Liberals & Conservatives

• The Impact of War– Profound both politically and economically– Constant warfare militarized society– Rubbed raw old ethnic and class divisions

© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Popular Participation

• Popular participation in the politics of nation building

• Local issues revolved around food prices and employment

• Lower classes’ crucial roles in national politics; upper class needed support

• The new rulers of Latin America

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Caudillos

• Emerged to bridge the gap between the upper and lower classes

• Juan Manuel de Rosas– Afro-Argentines as a pillar of his regime

• Heroism & charisma were no guarantees for a long or successful political career

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© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Challenge of Economic Recovery

• Obstacles to Development– Geography; laws, attitudes, and institutions

• Export Economies– Demand for agricultural commodities– European markets expanded rapidly– The Haitian revolution of 1791– A pattern of boom and bust cycles emerged

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© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Conclusion

• 19th century Latin America was a difficult time for governments & ordinary people

• High turnover for leaders

• Peru was worst case of unstable politics

• Postindependence Latin America also had its share of difficulties