Latin America

Focus• Again, we will focus on the forces that acted

on Latin America–Latin American agency not significant in

terms of this course• Begin in Unit 3 with arrival of Spanish and

Portuguese explorers–Primarily Spain, but will highlight

comparison/contrast with Portugal

Colonial PeriodUnit 3

Age of Exploration• Portugal and Spain –Henry the Navigator, Columbus

• Territory marked by Treaty of Tordesillas (1494)–Portugal gets Brazil–Spain gets the rest

Meeting the Natives• Conquistadors–Hernan Cortez destroys the Aztecs–Francisco Pizarro destroys the Inca

• At first, just taking tribute–Leave political structures in tact

and put Europeans on top

Conquest• Immigration, commerce, and

exploitation• Colonies established with natives as

serfs, but they mostly die–Causes importation of slaves

• Encomiendas

Settlement• Slave importation, immigration of women shifts

process from conquest to settlement• Spanish style cities, missionaries, administrative

institutions (included the Church)• Spaniards come to better themselves, serve

god, become a new nobility• Encomiendas banned, so plantations and

haciendas formed

Colonial Economy• Based primarily on mining, then

agriculture to provide for miners• Trade limited to Spanish ships• Total exploitation of native resources

and labor

Colonial Government

• Lawyers and judges ran the government for the crown• Viceroys in control in the New World of

various segments• Church plays a major role–Missionaries–Education–Part of the government

Portugal in BrazilSimilarities• Many missionaries and key

role for the Church• Plantation system similar• Both imported slaves• Develop a unique culture,

blending Spanish and native

Differences• Brazil’s economy was mainly

sugar plantations (gold and diamonds later)

• Political control remained in Europe

• Completely culturally dependent on Portugal

Society• Mestizos• Peninsulares• Creoles• Women were subordinate, couldn’t

own property, marriages were arranged

18th Century Reforms

• New king removes corrupt officials and takes more control• Economy becomes less diverse• All benefit the empire, but not local

elites, who will eventually revolt–Higher taxes and rising prices from

more government involvement

RevolutionsUnit 4

Influences• American–Revolutions in the Western Hemisphere are

possible• French–Yay liberty! Yay no king! Woah…let’s not get

crazy• Haitian–Oh crap

Independence Movements

• Mexico– Hidalgo pushes peasants to revolt– Conservative creoles eventually establish moderate

republic• South America– Bolivar in the north, San Martin in the south– Fail to create united regions, but independent

republics form• Brazil– Formed an empire, Portuguese king’s son

New States• Abolished slavery, but only slowly

granted full rights to non-whites–Elites maintained control–Women remained subordinate–Racial differences didn’t go away

• Caudillos – local military leaders – took control after economic problems

1820-1870• Britain becomes neocolonial power–Demand for raw materials for

industrialization expands economy–Benefits mostly the landholding

elite• Liberal politicians restore rights

1880-1920• Great Boom– Profit from increased demand for raw materials, becoming more

export-dependent• Mexico– Railroads help economy, modernization but on the backs of

peasants– Limited protests sparked 1910 revolution

• Argentina– Economy expands, beef exports – Heavy European influence from immigration– Socialists force reforms

• America becomes major player: Panama Canal, colonies

Mexico• 1821 – independence (briefly monarchy, but a

republic)• Caudillo – Santa Anna • War with America (1848), big loss, liberals take

over• Conservatives bring Maximillian from Europe to be

emperor• Executed, replaced by dictator Porfirio Diaz–Economic growth, but repression

Brazil• Military put down regional revolts• Shifted to coffee cultivation• More slavery, economic growth,

foreign investment, and immigrant labor• Military coup overthrew monarch in

1889, violently repressed peasants

20th CenturyUnit 5

Mexican Revolution• Diaz was mean–Repressed peasants–Foreigners owned economy, elites only

benefited• Zapata, Villa lead revolution• Obregon takes control with a republican

constitution promising education and land reform–Nationalism and indigenism

The Depression• During WWI, import-substitution

industrialization. Inflation followed• Rise of populism and nationalism,

with Depression, caused attack on liberalism and capitalism• Population growth, dominance of

cities new social problems

Ideological Changes• Labor gained power, European immigrants

brought new ideologies–Middle-class allied with elites, bringing

new protests from poor• Land reform in Mexico. Corporatism – like

state-run guilds for all industries and workers–Growth without labor conflict

After WWII• Challenge of trying to industrialize and

“decolonize”• War brought economic growth, socialist ideology–Guatemala: nationalist reforms, companies

got US to intervene and stop land reforms, causing more unrest and guerrilla conflict– Cuba becomes communist with social reforms

but no freedom or growth

Military Option• Thought they knew how to organize and run things,

were above petty politicians• Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Uruguay had military

interventions in the 1960s-70s• Bureaucratic authoritarian regimes: – imposed dictatorships, repression and torture

controlled critics–Nationalistic and anti-communist– Controlled inflation, caused growth–Hurts the workers

Present Times• Military steps back, democracy takes root• Populist socialist leaders in some places• Women slowly gained equality, at first were

subordinated within political parties• Urbanization• Population movements