Chapter 25lecturenotes

Chapter 25

The Consolidation of Latin America,

1830-1920

Introduction

• Compared to the Asian and African areas dominated by European Imperialism, Latin America was more successful in winning independence

• Latin American leaders were guided by the Enlightenment– Political progress and property rights– Yet, new nations inherited problems based on

colonial past

From Colonies to Nations

Causes of Political Change• Latin American revolutions inspired by

American and French revolutions– 1791 slave rebellion led to independent Haiti– Radical French Revolution frightened Creole elites– Breakdown of Spanish monarchy during

Napoleonic wars created crisis of legitimacy, Creole elites established independent governments


Spanish American Independence Struggles• Rebellion in Mexico began in 1810, Father Miguel de

Hidalgo– Failed due to lack of Creole support, second revolution

with support began in 1820• Creole military leader, Augustin de Iturbide proclaimed

emperor• Simon Bolivar led independence movements in northern

South America– Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador formed Gran Colombia

What do their clothes tell you about these revolutionaries?


• By 1830, Gran Colombia broke up into independent states

• Southern South America, Jose de San Martin led resistance in Argentina, Chile, Peru

• By 1825, South America was independent from Spain

Who is standing near Jose San Martin when he declared independence?

What Does Your Answer Suggest About theInfluences On the new Local Govern-ment?


Brazilian Independence• Independence was achieved by different methods

– Early movements failed due to general fear of slave uprisings– Royal family fled to Brazil due to Napoleonic Wars, Brazil was

raised to equal status with Portugal– Ports opened to world commerce– 1820, king returned to Portugal, son remained and declared

independence• Maintained existing social organization, political structure

New Nations Confront Old and New Patterns

• Newly independent nations focused on political representation, private property, free trade

• Role of Church became uncertain• Revolutionary ideals led to abolition• Race and gender was still a factor in social and

political hierarchy


Political Fragmentation• Mexico abandoned monarchy in favor of republic,

remained unstable until 1860s– Central America broke away from Mexico, also unable

to maintain unity• Cuba and Puerto Rico remained within Spanish orbit• Consolidation also failed in South America

– Geographic barriers, lack of communication networks and transportation magnified problems


Caudillos, Politics, and the Church• Decades of war led to rise of strong military figures, Caudillos

– Dominated local areas, seized power• Political disputes between Federalists and centrists

concerning distribution of power– Liberals supported federalists, conservatives with centrists– Liberals attempted to limit role of Church in civil affairs– Regardless of view, political leaders came from upper

classes

Latin American Economies and World Markets, 1820-1870

• England’s determination to recognize independence made it difficult for Europe to re-establish Spanish Empire– US supported independence, Monroe Doctrine– Support was based on trade access– British dominance hindered industrial

development, reinforced economic dependence


Mid-century Stagnation• Between 1820-1850 economy stagnated• After 1850, demand for Latin American goods

increased, economies expanded– Increased state development of infrastructure– As exports increased, vulnerability to world markets

increased– Reform was prevented by uneasy alliance between

peasants and conservatives


Economic Resurgence and Liberal Politics• European economic resurgence at end of century led to

greater demand from Latin America• Economic growth led to support for liberal policies,

government– European based economic models often failed– European immigrants fill demand for labor, Indians

ignored– Wealthy landowners monopolized countryside


Mexico: Instability and Foreign Intervention• Federalist Constitution of 1824 failed to

address equitable distribution of land, status of Indian

• Following 1835, Santa Anna served as prominent military, political figure– Failed to suppress rebellion, independence of Texas– Loss of US-Mex war led to huge loss of territory


• Failure of Santa Ana’s foreign policies led to his political removal– Liberal rebellion against caudillo led to establishment of

liberal constitution– Conservatives rejected constitution, looked to France for

help– French forces overthrew republic, placed Maximillian von

Hapsburg on throne– When French forces withdrew, liberals returned to power

• Benito Juarez


Argentina: The Port and the Nation• 1820s, Liberal government sought to stimulate trade• Strong centralized government was met with opposition from

ranchers– Conservative Juan Manuel de Rosas Federalism favored

ranchers over Indians• Liberals regained control following period of political

confusion after collapse of Rosas government– Liberal government used trade profits to make

improvements• Infrastructure, education


The Brazilian Empire• A functioning republic operated under façade of monarchy

– Independence established by Dom Pedro I• Brazilian economy was revolutionized by coffee as an export

crop– Slavery intensified– Infrastructure improvements, increased foreign investment– Increased Eastern European immigrations lessened need for

slave labor, abolished 1888– Monarchy collapsed due to unpopular war and opposition to

Church, military coup 1889 led to Republic

Societies in Search of Themselves

Cultural Expression After Independence• End of Spanish dominance opened door to

other cultural influences– French Neoclassicism, Romanticism, 1870s

Realism• Throughout century, culture of mass

population was unaffected by trends of elite

Societies in Search of ThemselvesOld Patterns of Gender, Class, and Race• Women gained little despite involvement in

independence movements– Excluded from political participation, subjected to

patriarchial authority– Gained wider access to education, contributed to growing

feminist movement• Old social hierarchy based on color and ethnicity

remained– Indians remained outside of Creole, mestizo social system

• Latin America remains largely agrarian despite economic expansion, urbanization

The Great Boom, 1880-1920

• Export economy created social and political alliances among large landowners, export merchants and miners

• Strong dependence on Europe for export market– More vulnerable to shifts in demand and prices

• Expanding economies attracted capital from Europe and US– Latin American industries and transportation

corporations in foreign hands

The Great Boom, 1880-1920Mexico and Argentina: Examples of Economic

Transformation• Porfirio Diaz elected president of republic

of Mexico– Liberal government attracted foreign

investment, built up infrastructure, initiated industrialization

– Suppressed all opposition, economic growth came at expense of lower classes

– Popular dissatisfaction led to Mexican Revolution, 1910

Popular Mexican Revolts

The Great Boom, 1880-1920• Argentina’s liberal government also depended on strong

export economy– Unlike Mexico’s large indigenous labor force, Argentina

relied on Eastern European immigrants– Brought with them socialism, workers rebelled against

government repression• Middle-class Radical Party promised political reform,

enlightened labor policies, 1916– Also acted repressively in face of strikes

• Mexico, Argentina model was common among Latin America states where liberal modernization met resistance

The Great Boom, 1880-1920Uncle Sam Goes South• Following Civil War, American capitalists turned to Latin

America for investment• Spanish American War

– First opportunity to intervene in Latin America– Puerto Rico and Cuba reduced to dependency– Supports Panama independence movement in exchange

for Panama Canal access• Latin American countries became increasingly critical of

increasing US intervention

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Chapter 25lecturenotes