Latin America in the 19th Century

Focus Question What events facilitated independence movements in Latin America in the early 19th century?

Latin American Independence Creoles 3.5 million creoles in Latin America by 1800 Only 30,000 peninsulares Resent tight government and economic regulations Want to replace peninsulares but retain their privileged position American Revolution Napoleon’s Invasion of Spain & Portugal

Latin American Independence 1810 – Miguel de Hidalgo begins uprising in Mexico Independence gained by Augustine de Iturbide in 1821 1819 – Simon Bolivar (right) gains independence for Columbia Liberates South America with help from Jose de San Martin Attempt for a unified northern South America fails in 1830 1821 – Brazil gains independence

Problems After Independence Caudillos Juan Manuel de Rosas (Argentina) “Machiavelli of the pampas” Kills over 22,000 people Latin America had little experience with self-government Creoles dominate politics Only 5% of male population participated in politics Role of the Catholic Church Poor treatment of natives

Mexico (1821-1857) 1821-1850’s marked by political instability Went from monarchy to republic to caudillo rule Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana (left) dominates politics prior to 1850 Church remains influential Owns almost 50% of all productive land in Mexico Nationalism grows after Mexican-American War

Benito Juarez (1861-1872) Liberal mestizo Institutes La Reforma First Mexican ruler without a military background Institutes La Reforma Focus on land redistribution to improve the condition of natives Confiscates church lands Speculators and large landowners buy land instead of natives Most of Mexico’s peasants were landless by 1900 Creates a backlash from Mexican conservatives

Porfirio Diaz (1876-1910) Industrialized Mexico Built railroads Improved banking system Focused on oil & mining Depended on foreign investment Increasingly autocratic Oppressed political opposition

Economic Problems Monroe Doctrine (1823) Economic Imperialism? Britain replaced Spain as the dominant economic force in Latin America Economy depended heavily on exports Britain dominated until 1860 Modernization theory vs. Dependency theory

U.S. Imperialism

U.S. Intervention in Latin America Mexican-American War (1846-1848) Spanish-American War U.S. gains Puerto Rico, the Philippines, Guam “Independence” for Cuba Roosevelt Corollary Extension of Monroe Doctrine Panama Canal Mexican Cession as part of the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo (1848)

U.S. Imperialism

U.S. Imperialism

U.S. Imperialism

“Big Stick” foreign policy

Argentina After independence dominated by caudillos Politically stabilized after 1862 Economic growth based on exports Primary export is beef Dependent on foreign capital Large numbers of immigrants from Europe 3.5 million from Italy, Germany, Russia, etc.

Latin American Society Few changes for women in Latin America Remained under the control of their fathers and husbands Lower class had more economic freedoms Gained more access to education Racial castes were formally abolished Racial and ethnic tensions continued