19th Century Latin America“Between Revolutions”Chapter 26 Section 4

GRAB A BOOK and join me on Pgs. 658-662

EQ: How did Latin America develop politically and economically after independence in the early 19th

century?

The Roots of Imperialism During the 1800s, most Latin American nations were

plagued by revolts, civil war, and dictatorships.

Many problems had their origins in colonial rule, as independence barely changed the existing social and political hierarchy.

Creoles – Spanish born in the colonies who owned the land (plantations) and mines

Mestizos (mix between Spanish and native) and Mulatto (mix between Spanish or native and African)

Any full blooded native or African was the lowest class

With few roads and no traditions of unity, the new nations were weakened by regionalism, loyalty to a local area.

Legacy of Imperialism Under colonial rule, mercantilist policies made Latin

America economically dependent on Spain and Portugal. After independence, this pattern changed very little. The region remained as economically dependent as before.

While the US and Europe emerge as industrial powers in the 19th C, Latin America finds its role as mainly a supplier of raw materials

Economic dependence occurs when less-developed nations export raw materials and commodities to industrial nations and import manufactured goods, capital, and technological know-how.

The relationship is unequal because the more developed — and wealthier nation — can control prices and terms of trade.

Legacy of Imperialism Latin American free

nations became dependent on trading single large cash products with the US and Europe

Ex. Brazil & Colombia = Coffee

Ex. Venezuela & Mexico = Oil (late 1800s, early 1900s)

Ex. Central American nations = Bananas = “Banana Republics”

Foreigners came to invest, but mostly associated with only the elites classes (creoles), leading to a large disparity in wealth

Map on page 660

The Mexican Struggle Mexico was divided politically by three groups:

1) landowners, 2) the Catholic Church and 3) military leaders (caudillos) who supported landowners

Social divisions separated these groups from the average mestizos and native Indians (the majority of the population) who lived in poverty…these peoples were subject to the will of the 3 major groups

Add to the social problems, some new country to the north (US) was picking away territory from Mexico, causing the people to lose faith in Mexico’s military government (Mexican War/Mexican Cession)

La Reforma

Benito Juarez seized power in 1855 and began official reform of Mexico. He was elected Mexico’s first president in 1861.

His government preceded to strip power from the military and the church and attempted to sell more land to the peasants

He was met with resistance from the wealthy land owner Creoles of Mexico who felt threatened by his attempts to take away their land

The Mexican Empire??? The Creole landowners

turned to Europe for help against Juarez

In 1863, emperor Napoleon III of France sent troops and Maximilian of Austria to rule over Mexico

His reign lasted 4 short years (he was abandoned by the French and murdered by the Mexicans)

In 1867, Juarez was back in power though he died by 1872, and his reforms go completely unfulfilled

A New Regime General Porfirio Diaz, a hero of the war

against France, assumed the presidency 1876-1880 and 1884-1911 he ruled like a

benevolent dictator, “in the name of Order and Progress”

He re-strengthened the military, created a police state and brutally crushed any opposition

Diaz did help to expand Mexico economically

He built a strong railroad, drilled for oil and began industrialization

BUT, he let foreign investors and other countries exploit these resources and simply pay him and his cronies tribute for their effort

THOUGH, Mexico continued the social disparage > wealthy landowners and poor peasants

Eventually, Mexico would AGAIN fail prey to yet ANOTHER revolution…

For remainder of time/homework…

Chapter 26 sec 4 Puzzle Chapter 26 sec 4 reading quiz “Our America” reading w/questions

REMINDER: Presentations on Modern Latin America December 15, 16 and 17!