HISTORY AND GOVERNMENT

OF LATIN AMERICA

Chapter 9 Section 2

MayasDominated Southern Mexico from

A.D. 250-900.

Skilled in math and astronomy.

For unknown reasons, they abandoned their cities which became lost under vegetation.

The ruins of over 40 Mayan cities have been uncovered today.

AztecsArose around Central Mexico in

the A.D. 1300’s

Founded their capital, Tenochtitlan, which is modern day Mexico City

Highly structured class system headed by an emperor and military officials

IncasExisted during the same time as

the Aztecs.

At the height of the empire, it stretched from modern day Ecuador to central Chile!

Constructed massive temples and fortresses using precise methods for cutting stones.

Built irrigation systems to bring water from the Pacific.

Christopher ColumbusItalian explorer.

Sent by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain to find a Westward route to India.

Voyages lasted from 1492-1504.

Began the Age of American exploration.

ConquistadorsExplorers who came from Europe

to “conquer” Latin America.

Hernan Cortes: defeated the Aztecs in 1521 and claimed Mexico for Spain.

Francisco Pizarro: destroyed the Incas in 1535 and claimed that area of South America for Spain.

RESOURCESTons of gold and silver were

found in the new European colonies.

Brazilwood is found in Brazil and was used to make red dye.

They were also able to grow coffee, bananas, and sugarcane which thrive in tropical environments.

SlaveryThe Conquistadors enslaved the

Native Americans to make them work.

But they begin to die off because of the introduction to new diseases.

African slaves are then brought to the colonies to work to meet the labor shortage.

Gaining Independence

In the 1700’s, resentment towards European rule starts to spread in Latin America.

Encourages by the Revolutions in The United States and France, Latin Americans join together to end colonial rule.

Gaining IndependenceHaiti: won independence from

France in 1804 led by Francois Toussaint-Louverture.

Mexico: won independence from Spain in 1821 led by Father Miguel Hidalgo.

Other leaders include- Simon Bolivar in Venezuela,

Bolivia, Columbia, Panama, Peru and Ecuador

Gaining IndependenceCuba does not gain independence

from Spain until 1898.

Jamaica and Barbados did not gain independence until the 1900’s

Some are still until rule.- Martinique belongs to France- Cayman Islands belong to Britain- Virgin Islands are Puerto Rico are

territories of the US.

Era of DictatorshipsWars for independence in Latin

America paved the way for dictators to rule.

Power fell into the hands of the wealthy, military, or clergy.

Dictators with the backing of the military became absolute rulers with the sole authority to make decisions.

Movements of ChangeIn the 1900’s, America’s

influence increased in the region.

- Ex. Panama Canal Zone after independence in 1903.

Creation of railroads and expansion of trade made the rich richer and the poor poorer.

Leads to unrest among farmers, workers, and Native Americans.

Movements of Change

Cuban Revolution in 1959 address the concerns of the poor and put Fidel Castro into power.

With the exception of Cuba, most Latin American countries have traded in dictatorships for democracies.