Latin America in the 19th Century

AP World HistoryUvalde High School

Focus QuestionWhat events facilitated independence

movements in Latin America in the early 19th century?

Latin American IndependenceCreoles

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 RevolutionNapoleon’s Invasion of

Spain & Portugal

Latin American Independence1810 – Miguel de Hidalgo

begins uprising in Mexico Independence gained by

Augustine de Iturbide in 18211819 – 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 18301821 – 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 ChurchPoor 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 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

investmentIncreasingly autocraticOppressed 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

CubaRoosevelt CorollaryPanama 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

ArgentinaAfter independence dominated by

caudillosPolitically stabilized after 1862Economic 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. Golondrinas

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