latin america. focus again, we will focus on the forces that acted on latin america – latin...
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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 Period
Unit 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
Revolutions
Unit 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 Century
Unit 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