Consolidation+of+Latin+America

From Colonies to Nations: MI: A combination of internal developments and the Napoleonic Wars set the Latin American independance movements in motion. Causes of Political change: MI: Latin American political independance was achieved as a generl part of the Atlantic revolutions and Latin american leaders were motivated by similar ideals as those reblling in areas of the atlantic, and 4 events in particular effected the political changes in Latin America. Spanish American Independance Struggles: MI: The independance movements were divided into three major theatres of Operation. Brazilian Independance: MI: ALthough independance movements in Brazil were largely contemporaneous to those in America, and the causes very similar, revolution in Brazil took place in a number of processes which vastly differed from the other revolutions at the time. New Nations Deal with Old and New Problems: MI: The new nations confronted difficult problems: Social inequalities, political representation, the role of the church, and regionalism. These problems lead to fragmentation, and only political leaders who represented the interest majorities of their followers rose to prominence. Political Fragmentation: MI: The New Latin American nations can be grouped into regional groups which were based on regional rivalries, economic competition, and even political divisions, though some early revolutionary leaders wanted a completely unified confederation of nations. Caudillos, Politics, and the Church:
 * By the late 18th century, Creole elites expressed a growing self-consciousness as they began to question the policies of Spain and Portugal.
 * However, they were joined by a large lower class who were irritated at the government's heavy hand in their affairs.
 * However, this shared resentment was not enough to overcome class conflicts and divisions, as can be seen from the fact that earlier independance movements failed because the Creoles were unwilling to enlist the help of Mestizos and Mulattos.
 * THe American revolutionary model provided an example of how colonies can break away from their oppressive mother country.
 * THe French Revolution piqued interrest in latin America, but the creoles grew very worried about the potential of regicide, abolition of church power, and destruction of social classes.
 * The Hatian revolution further worried the Creoles, as it was a direct result of political infighting among the elite providing a mechanism for the slaves to escape and take control.However, for slaves and other people of color throughout the Americas, Haiti became a symbol of home and freedom.
 * Likewise, a similar confusion and weakness of Spanish political structure following the French revolution lead to aid in rebellion. France invaded Spain after 1808, leading to a long a brutal guerrila war. Spain and France battled for control, creating problemms relating to actual legitimacy.
 * In Mexico, a conspiracy among leading creoles lead one of hte plotters, a priest Father Miguel de Hidalgo to call for help from Mestizos and Indians in 1810.He won a few early victories, however after losing the support of the creoles who feared rebelloin and loss of social control more than they wanted freedom he was eventually defeated.
 * Eventually in 1820, the Creoles were once again willing to unite with the remaining insurgent forces after events in Spain weakened the King and the government.Augustin de iturbide, creole leader of the army division sent to destroy the uprising decided instead to sign a treaty with it, and soon proclaimed Iturbide the Emperor of Mexico in 1821.However, Mexico was proclaimed a republic in 1838 and separated into independant states after losing control of central America in 1824.
 * In South America and the Carribean, the chronology of independance was a mirror image of the chronology of conquests in the 16th century.Formerly secondary areas like Argentina were able to more easily break with Spain than older colonies like Peru and Cuba.
 * After early reverses, Simon Bolivar, a wealthy Creole emerged as the leader of a revolt against Spain. He posessed considerbale military skill and a flair for rallying peopel to his side, he eventually lead revolts in Venezuela, COlombia and Ecudar as well.Untill 1830,these nations were united in a new confederation known as Gran Colombia, however Bolivar refused to be named a king, and political differences lead to the breakup of Gran Colombia.
 * Meanwhile in Souther SOuth America, a new revolutionary movement was developing under Jose de San Martin in the Rio de la Plata area.Buenos Aires had become a major center of commerce in the 1800s, and it's citizens became increasingly irritated with Spanish trading restrictions. San Martin had developed as a military leader who was willing to speak and act only for independance.
 * European demand for colonial products suchas cotton, cacao, and sugar made Brazil grow in population and economic importnance by the end of the 18th century.Although Brazilian planters wanted an open trading policy and fewer taxes, the fear of social uprising on the scale of Haiti would result from any major political upset kept them from major rebellion.
 * However, when French troops invaded Portugal in 1807, the portuguese royalty responded by fleeing to Brazil, which reinforced the colonial relationship.In fact, Brazil became the new center of the portuguese empire until 1820, with the portuguesee King Dom Joao the 6th ruling his kingdom from there.This lead to massive improvements in Brazilian society, with Rio de Janeiro being transformed into an imperial city with a public library, botanical gardens, and new techn ologies such as schools and printing presses revolutionized the colonial life.However, the importatino of portuguese officials helped create some resentment among the pre-existing bureaucrats.
 * Afterthe defeat of Napoleon in 1820, Portugal underwent liberal reform, and the monarchy moved back there, to aid the new Parliament in ruling.However, Joao's son Pedro was left as ruler of Brazil, soon allowing it to become independant. Brazil's independance did not upset the social structure, or political organization to a great degree.
 * BY 1830, the Spanish and portuguese colonies had all become independant nations, and their roughly 20 million inhabitants looked upon the future with hope.Many leaders of the rveolutions had similar ideals, influenced by those of the previous revolutions in the Atlantic: representative government, careers open to talent,the basis of individuals for a society's interests.There was a general belief that new nations should be independant states, and posess a viable economy and singular binding set of laws.
 * However, on the issue of Freedom of Religion and power of the Church, there was much disagreement, as Roman Catholicism was the mandated state religion.While most leaders attempted to maintain the power of the Catholic Church, others tried to end the exclusion of other faiths, making them a prime target for conservative politicians. Women were also further disenfranchised and also denied the right to women's suffrage.
 * Although some mestizos were able to rise to leadership roles in the wars for independance, it became clear that old class distinctions would not easily disappear.IN Mexico, Guatemala, and other Andean nations, large indian populations largely remained outside of political life.However, the Indians and those of mixed origins became increasingly suspicious of the upper class, who were composed not only of old aristocracy but also of a new burgeoisie merchant class.
 * Mexico emerged as a short lived monarchy until it became a republic in 1823, but it's government remained largely unstable well into the 1860s due to a series of political coups, foreign interference, and economic weakness.
 * Central America broke away from the Mexican empire with hopes of forming a union, but regional antagonists and the resentment of the Guatemalans, lead to the dissolution of the union in 1838.
 * Cuba and Puerto Rican movements for independence were largely put down early, so the country would remain outwardly loyal.Haiti occupied the nearby Dominican republic until it eventually gained independence in 1844, defending it from recolonization by France or Spain.
 * The Andean nations of Peru and Bolivia contemplated union with the United Provinces of La Plata under the mestizo general Andres Santa Cruz, but once again regional rivalries prevented this unification.
 * In fact, most attempts at union failed . Massive geographic barriers and great distances separated nations and even regions within the same nation.Roads were poor and transportation was largely rudimentary.What is striking is that with the strength of these divisions, the former Spanish colonies did not further separate.
 * The Mobilization of national armies who were loyal to regional captains based on thier personal qualities lead to the rise of the Caudillos, independant leaders who controlled certain regions, and occasionally even came to dominate the entire country.
 * Military groups of regional claudillos could mobilize their many-faceted people, which allowed them to more easily stay in power, Though they were only motivated for their own interests. However, a few leaders truly did take the interests of their people to heart, such as Rafael Carrera, the ruler of Guatemala.
 * Political parties such as federalists and centralists began to form in Latin America.The general population might be mobilized by the personality of leaders like Juan Manuel de Rosas and Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, but overall the political ideology was not anissue for most of the population.
 * The role of the Church became the crucial issue in political policy, dividing conservatives and liberals. In Mexico, for example, the Church had played a large role in the development of the education system and economy, but liberals attempted to limit it's importance in civic life.Few questioned the Dogma, which was still based around the power of the papacy.

Key Changes || Basic Features at the End of the Period || Causes and effects || (Solo) || * Stagnation after the end of revolution,with economic weakness prompting neo-colonial ties with foreign powers. > and the new revenues allowed for the stabilizationof a liberal government which was able to enactreforms competently.(Brazil, Mexico, etc) > events are to take place in the regionin the coming years, and most countriesare on the front line in attracting private investment. > to ecological damage (as happenedin many other countries who experienced rapid industrialization, such as Russai) ||^  ||^   || (GroupWork) [|https://docs.] [|google.com/] [|document/d/] [|1H3P_CA_D] [|4ftOhYV0gQ] [|Mh_JywI12r] [|O8aIxZ3SkV] [|V70UI/edit?hl=en]# ||  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * Theme || Basic features at beginning of period || Key Continuities
 * Economics
 * As some nations found new markets for exports,
 * Foreign aid( US' Monroe doctrine technicallyoffered protection to newly formed LatinAmerican Countries, at least from foreign powers)
 * Use of raw goods such as minerals and grains asprimary sources for overseas tradewith foreign powers || * Dependance on foreign nations and exports
 * Strong presence in the global market due to high levels of resources/Raw goods || * Economic gaps/maldistributionof weatlh
 * Expanding economic and industrialgrowth has lead to ecological damage,( specifically to the Rainforests/Jungles)
 * Major global environment and sports
 * Economic influence upon the justice system/ corruption ||  ||
 * ^  ||^   || * Social division based on wealth/ socio-economic gap
 * Private investments as a major source of income
 * Increased industrialization leading
 * Social/Society