Chapter 25

The Consolidation of Latin AmericaWHAP!

1867- Mexico

Napoleon IIIPresident of the French

Republic; Ruler of the Second French Empire

Nephew and heir of Napoleon I

Emperor of Mexicor. 10 April 1864 - 19 June 1867

• Austrian Archduke Maximilian– Sent by Napoleon III – Why? Mexico owed debts

• Common “Latin” culture

– Goal: establish monarchy• Profit• Appease French Catholics

– Mexican War of Independence: 1810-1821

• Result: Firing Squad

1794 & 1848ENLIGHTENMENT IDEALS

REACH LATIN AMERICA: 19TH

CENTURY INDEPENDENCE

MOVEMENT

Comparing Independence Movements in Latin America, Europe and US

Similarities• Progress• Reform• Political Representation • Constitutional Government

Differences• Latin America: no

practice/experience in representative government; power held by central government

• US: House of Burgesses (VA)• Europe: Parliaments with

limited power

Race

• Creole: American-born Whites (European)• American Indian: Natives• Mestizo: European + American Indian• Mulatto: African + European• Africans

Could they all get along?

Colonial elites (whites) think, “Can we control them (everyone else)?”

Causes of Political Change

1. Age of Enlightenment (18th Century)

– Beliefs:• Life, liberty, property, health• Separation of powers/ limited government• Consent of the governed (popular sovereignty)

John Locke

VoltaireRousseau Thomas

Hobbes

Causes of Political Change

2. Other Successful Revolutions (model)• American Revolution (1775-1783)– Breaking away from the mother

country is possible– If they can do it, so can we….

• French Revolution (1779)– “liberty, equality and fraternity”– Not supported by the Creole elites

• Regicide, rejection of the Church’s authority, and social leveling

Causes of Political Change3. St. Domingue, French colony• Political conflict

– Whites and free people of color– 1791: slaves led rebellion

• Leader: Toussaint L’Overture (TOO-san LOO-vuhr-tyuhr)

– 1804: independent republic of Haiti

• Other Latin American countries (basically, white elites with plantations) wanted to avoid Haitian model

• Slaves, former slaves and free people of color saw Haiti as a symbol of hope

Causes of Political Change

4. Problems in Europe (Napoleonic Wars)• After the French Revolution France

invaded the Iberian Peninsula• Spain: Two rulers

– Napoleon’s Brother (King)– Junta Central (committee loyal to King

Ferdinand)– Colonies:

• Caracas, Bogotá and Mexico created Juntas– Supposed to be loyal to the deposed King,

but they ruled for themselves

Joseph BonaparteKing of Spain

King Ferdinand VIIKing of Spain

Spanish American Independence Struggles

• Central America• Northern South America• Southern South America

Mexico• Father Miguel de Hidalgo

– Had help from mestizos and American Indians – Lost support of the Creoles (who feared social

rebellion)– Captured and Executed– Insurgency continued

• Augustín de Iturbide– Creole Army officer– Joined with the insurgency (instead of killing

them)– Combined forces won Mexico City in

September 1821– Iturbide was declared Emperor of Mexico

Bell of DeloresRung by Hidalgo before his speech to rally the people to fight for independence

Mexican Empire

• 1821-1824• After the collapse, Central American countries established

independent nations and Mexico became a republic.

Northern South America (huh?)

• Independence movement centered in Caracas

• 1810• Simon Bolívar– Wealthy Creole Officer– President of Grand Colombia

(Venezuela, Columbia and Ecuador)

– Rejected offers to be king

Southern South America

• José de San Martín– Buenos Aires, Argentina– Helped to liberate Argentina and Chile

Brazil

• Portuguese royal family fled Napoleon and established the Portuguese Empire in Rio de Jeneiro– Opened ports to world commerce

(England)– Dom João VI, Portuguese King– Improved Rio de Janeiro

• Library, gardens, printing presses, schools

• João VI’s son eventually declared Brazil independent and became Dom Pedro I Constitutional

Emperor of Brazil Dom Pedro I

An Independent Latin America

• All countries are republics

• Except Brazil (Monarchy)

New Nations/New Problems

• Major issues– Social inequalities

• 1854 slavery abolished everywhere• Except Cuba, Puerto Rico (Spanish colonies still) & Brazil

– Political representation• Property and literacy restrictions on voters• Men only• American Indians and people of mixed origins were suspicious of

political elite (old colonial aristocracy)• Centralist (conservatives) vs Federalists (liberals)

– Role of the Church– Regionalism

US Involvement• Monroe Doctrine

– 1823– Statement by American President Monroe

telling Europeans to stay out of Latin America or else! (empty words)

– Britain had a capital interest to support Latin American independence

• Manifest Destiny– Belief to unite the US coast to coast

• Mexican-American War– Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo– Mexican Cession ($15 Million)

• Spanish- American War– Cuba– Puerto Rico– Philippines

• US backed Panama independence from Colombia– Panama Canal (American rights)