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Introlecture PP

The document discusses key differences in the development of the United States and Latin America stemming from their colonial histories and legacies. The US had colonies tied to a rising Britain while Latin America was colonized by a declining Spain. This led to differences in political systems, economies, demographics, and timing of independence movements that still influence the regions today.

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51 views30 pages

Introlecture PP

The document discusses key differences in the development of the United States and Latin America stemming from their colonial histories and legacies. The US had colonies tied to a rising Britain while Latin America was colonized by a declining Spain. This led to differences in political systems, economies, demographics, and timing of independence movements that still influence the regions today.

Uploaded by

api-3699641
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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U.S.

Latin American Relations


Why did U.S. and the countries of Latin America develop
so differently?
By the grace of God,
some are less
Church
fallible and should
Need to
be in power to best
Crown (politics) and
maintain control
execute God’s will
over
conquistadors Wealth (economics)
 Viceroyalties
Race/Identity
King
Council of the Indies
(Resident in Spain)

Central
Viceroy
|
(functions as)
Gobierno Eclesiásti
(Executiv Justicia Hacienda co
Militar
e (Judiciar (Treasur (Church
(Military)
governm y) y) governm
ent) ent)
Governor President Captain- Superviso Vice-
(Chief of the general r Oficiales patron of
Executive Audiencia Reales Archdioces
Officer) (Treasury e
Officers) Regular
Orders
Inquisition
By the grace of God,
some are less
Church
fallible and should
Need to
be in power to best
Crown (politics) and
maintain control
execute God’s will
over All economic
conquistadors Wealth (economics)activity should
 Viceroyalties increase power
Race/Identity and prestige of
the state: crown
maintained
absolute control
over trade and
commerce
Encomienda
System:

Conquistadors given
land and all
(Indigenous) people
on it as reward for
service to King.

= New World
Feudalism
Neither agriculture nor industry = main focus of
Crown
By the grace of God,
some are less
Church fallible and should
Need to be in power to best
execute God’s will
Crown (politics) and
maintain control
over All economic
conquistadors Wealth (economics) activity should
 Viceroyalties increase power
Race/Identity and prestige of
Creation of “new race” the state: crown
=Difference from British maintained
colonialism absolute control
over trade and
Near destruction of Indigenous commerce
population
 Slaves from Africa
+ Identity issues between native
Spanish peninsulares and
Criollos had wealth but not power
Growing resentment of peninsulares

Majority mestizo population had neither wealth


nor power
Growing resentment of peninsulares and
criollos
Their quest for power would shape
Latin American politics from
independence to the late 20th century.
Gender Dimension of Colonial Hierarchy

Machismo
Brazil

Treaty of Tordesillas, 1494


Conquest of Brazil = less bloody

1. No large urban populations of indigenous

2. Not a lot of gold

3. Autonomy of landholders (looser control


by Portuguese crown)

Importation of more
than 4 million slaves
from Africa to work
on Brazilian sugar
plantations
By 1825, half of Brazil’s
population was of
African descent
European roots of the independence of Latin
America

Bourbon Reforms:

Reorganization of colonies, more peninsulares


in power

Colonial militias (dominated by criollos)

Increase in commerce (threatened criollo


feudalism)
Napoleon Bonaparte put his brother Joseph on
Spanish throne (1808-1813).

Criollo movement for


independence

But not as liberal a


movement as in North
America
Bolivar’s dream of Gran Colombia

Republican
Democracy is:

“ overperfect and it demands political virtues and


talents far superior to our own. For the same reason,
I reject a monarchy that is part aristocracy and part
democracy, although with such a government
England has achieved much fortune and splendor.”
Hidalgo y Costilla led a
monarchist movement, but
one for equal rights . His
Mestizo and Indigenous
followers scared the Criollos
When Ferdinand VII was
restored to the Spanish
throne, some Criollos no
longer saw a need for
independence.

Until he reinstated the


liberal constitution.
“Aggressive, insulting and rebellious women”

A letter to the Venezuelan rebel army:


Armed with a firm character and putting aside the
weakness that is attributed to us, we are fully
aware of the dangers the country faces. [y] As
members of the female sex, sir, we do not fear the
horrors of war: the explosion of the cannon will only
encourage us: its fire will light our desire for the
freedom that we will sustain at any price in honour
of the Fatherland. By virtue of this and wishing to
enlist in the service to replace the soldiers who
have left for San Fernando, we beseech you to bear
us in mind and send us wherever is convenient.
When Napoleon invaded Portugal (1807), the
royal court fled to Brazil.
Attempted Europeanization.

Invited back after Napoleon expelled from


Portugal.
Dom Pedro remains in Brazil as regent

= Only lasting independent


monarchy in the Americas

Brazilian independence = less


bloody than in Spanish
America.
Help from British.
Dom Pedro remained as
King of independent Brazil.
= A big mess!

Colonial Legacy:
Economy based on
raw materials

Decline of trade

Little industrialization

Lack of long term


thinking by plantation
elite

Fragmentation
Racial/ethnic legacy of independence:

Career path for Mestizo

Second conquest of Indigenous


Not until late 1800s that political authority became
important to Criollos

In the mean time:


Caudillo System: strongmen and
mercenaries

1850s: Strongest of strongmen began to


centralize state power.
Conservatives v Liberals

Hacienda owners
Intellectuals and
small- time
capitalists

Goals: Agricultural system, Free


Trade,Equal rights class privileges
less power for Church

Liberals mostly won, but had work cut out for


them in impoverished countries with chaotic
histories.
Maintaining ORDER = KEY
Liberal Dicts.
Modernization via repression

Liberal in terms of modernity, but not


equality/liberty

Incorporation into capitalist world system as


source of raw materials
 Maintenance of polarized society
Fundamental Differences Between Anglo and
Latin America
Place in the world:

Latin America: colonies of Spain, a fading power on the


international scene from late 17th century that was
desperately trying to recapture its glory

Anglo American: colonies tied to Britain during its early


dynamic phase. England was in a better place
technologically, economically and politically
Political differences:
Different Attitudes about authoritarianism: church, army, and
government

Different Attitudes toward centralization and federalism

Different reasons for settling: escape vs. getting rich


Economic differences:
Haciendas vs. Yeoman farmers

Spanish America’s reliance on agriculture and mining


Made it more susceptible to the effect of violent
fluctuations in world prices
Would come to be known as the “Banana Republics.“

Anglo American colonial period during Britain’s relative


strength in world market

Newly independent Latin America opened themselves up to


free trade when not strong enough to compete
North America = protectionist to help local producers

Latin American social system =more hierarchical, larger


disparities
between rich and poor, very small middle class.

Demographic differences:
Much larger indigenous population in Latin America 
bloodier conquest
and repression.

Different degree and rate of urbanization.

Size and timing:


United States = largely consolidated before it expanded

Latin America never really consolidated  greater degree


of nationalism
and factionalization

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