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Latin America 1830-1920. By: Bill Rice. From Colonies to Nations. Causes of Political Change. Latin America pushed for independence because of four major global events American Revolution French Revolution
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Latin America 1830-1920 By: Bill Rice
Causes of Political Change • Latin America pushed for independence because of four major global events • American Revolution • French Revolution • Divisions of whites and free people of color over control of St. Domingue (Haiti), France’s sugar colony. • Latin American countries pretended to stay loyal to Spanish King setting up their own leadership as a result of France’s occupation of the Iberian Peninsula.
Spanish American Independence Three areas of operation involved in struggle. 1. Mexico (Included Central America) 2. South America 3. Caribbean
Mexico • 1824 Mexico became a republic • 1838 Central American countries gained independence after a brief attempt to consolidate as one nation, Gran Colombia
South America • Argentina and Venezuela were the first to become republics • Peru was last to break with Spain • 1825 All South American countries had gained their political independence
Caribbean • Cuba and Puerto Rico stay loyal to Spain, fearful of slave rebellion like they had seen in Haiti until the end of 19th century • Other countries gained independence using American and French revolutions and South American Independence as examples
Brazilian Independence • In the late 18th century Brazils economy and population boomed. • European demand grew. • Increase in slave imports • Lower class people wanted fewer taxes and open trade
New Nations Confront Old and New Problems • Social inequalities • Political representation • The role of the church • Regionalism These problems led to political fragmentation
Social Inequalities • Even with an end to slavery, issues of equality, race, and freedoms still existed
Political Representation • Women and many people of color where disenfranchised from voting, property ownership and education
The Role of the Church • Shift from church having major role in education, economy, and politics to loss of influence on the people
Latin American Economies and World Markets,1820-1870 • The Monroe Doctrine of 1823 – stated that any attempt by a European power to colonize would be considered an unfriendly act by the US
Mid Century Stagnation • After the wars of independence, Latin American economy was stagnant • Wars destroyed industries • Roads were poor • Money was tied up in land • Only Cuba expanded with the sugar economy- Cuba was still a colony of Spain
Economic Resurgence and Liberal Politics • Last quarter of the century there was a rapid expansion due to second industrial revolution. • New demands for copper, rubber, wheat, sugar , and coffee • Population of L.A. doubled to 43 million between 1820 and 1880
Mexico: Instability and Foreign Intervention • Mexico gained independence, but the Constitution did not address social problems • Bad distribution of land • Status of Native Americans • Problems in education • Overwhelming number of poor
Mexican Reforms • Mexico was forced to face the nations internal problems • Benito Juarez (a Zapotec Indian) became governor of his state • La Reforma a liberal revolt, brought about a new constitution in 1857, limiting church and military control. The result was by 1910 ½ of rural population was landless • Civil war erupted
Manifest Destiny • A belief that the US was destined to rule Continent from coast to coast • US voted to annex Texas • The result was the Mexican American War • The US acquired ½ of Mexico’s territory
Argentina + Brazil • Brazil was last to abolish slavery in 1888 • Europeans emigrated to South America because of the improving economies
Societies in Search of Themselves • Social change was slow for American Indians, Blacks, and Women • Elites were influenced by fashions and tastes of Europe in clothing, art, and architecture
Old Patters of Gender, Class, and Race • Education for women increased • Public education increased • Indigenous people continued in labor and to be poor
The Great Boom, 1880-1920 • Large economic growth because of high demand by industrial Europe and US for raw materials food and tropical crops such as coffee • Also bananas, rubber, copper, silver, wool, wheat, and beef were in demand as exports
Spanish American War • War centered on Cuba and Puerto Rico (Spain’s last colonies in the Americas) • Panama Canal opened in 1914 backed by the US • Puerto Rico and the Philippines became US territories