Nation Building and Economic Transformation in the Americas, 1800-1890Chapter 23

Independence in Latin America

1800-1830

Roots of Revolution, to 1810

U.S. Declaration of Independence and Fr. Declaration of the Rights of Man were circulating in Latin America

Elites upset at the power held by colonial officials upset about high taxes

trouble in Europe led to ideas of revolution Napoleon invading the Iberian peninsula 1808, the Portuguese royal family went to Brazil

King John VI ruled from there for 10+ years

Napoleon replaced the Sp. monarch with his brother Joseph Bonaparte

Sp. patriots formed the Junta Central to govern Spain while the King remained a Fr. prisoner

The Junta claimed control of all of Spain’s territories Many wealthy Sp. colonists did not like the Junta 1808 and 1809- uprisings overthrew the Sp. officials

in Venezuela, Mexico, and Alto Peru Sp. officials quickly regained control and punished

the leaders This made more people support the revolutionists

Spanish South America, 1810-1825 Caracas (capital of Venezuela)

revolutionary Junta led by Creoles declared independence in 1811

leaders were large landowners supported slavery opposed citizenship for black and mixed-race people

colonial administration reacts rally free blacks and slaves to defend Spain

Revolutionary officials turned to Simon Bolivar

son of wealthy planters had studied classics and the Enlightenment agreed to support emancipation to get slaves to

help and to get supplies from Haiti he gets the help of English soldiers

Spain, 1820 Ferdinand VII is returned to the throne forced to sign a constitution that limits his

powers Bolivar’s Army liberates Venezuela,

Columbia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia (named for Bolivar)

Buenos Aires important center of revolution

a Junta formed that claimed loyalty to Ferdinand VII while he was imprisoned

they declared independence after Ferdinand returned to the throne

United provinces of the Rio de la Plata They were unable to control the region and chaos broke

out San Martin, a military leader was able to cross the Andes

and attack Sp. troops in Chile and Peru Won in Chile, lost in Peru Unable to win in Peru, he gave command of his troops to

Bolivar who defeated the Spanish in 1824

Mexico, 1810-1823

Spain’s wealthiest and most powerful colony in 1810

rich silver mines Mexico City was larger than any city in Spain largest population of Spanish immigrants Spanish loyalists overthrew the viceroy when

Ferdinand was forced to abdicate the throne

Rebellion central Mexico wealthy farmers had forced Amerindians from

their land crop failures and epidemics made the situation

worse

Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla parish priest urged people to rise up against Spanish

oppression rural poor joined him, they had no military

experience or weapons randomly attacked their oppressors, the

ranches and mines Hidalgo was captured, tried, and executed in

1811.

Jose Maria Morelos a priest better military and political leader than Hidalgo set up a congress that met and created a

constitution in 1813 he was defeated and executed in 1815

colonial rule seemed secure in 1820 Mexican loyalists, led by Colonel Agustin

de Iturbide, later declared independence from Spain and Mexico declared Iturbide the emperor.

1823, Mexico became a republic

Brazil, to 1831 1808, Portuguese royal family moved to

Brazil stimulated economy gave more power to colonial elite

1821, King John VI returned to Portugal, left his son Pedro in Brazil

People surrounded by revolutions for independence questioned their own colonial status

Pedro I declared independence from Portugal and Brazil had a constitutional monarchy

different political opinions and high costs of running the new government forced Pedro to abdicate in 1831

Pedro II ruled until 1889

The Problem of Order

1825-1890

Constitutional Experiments

Just like in the U.S., Latin Americans felt a constitution was necessary

careful description of political powers protected the people constitutions were often ratified and then

rejected

societies were not accustomed to voting British colonies had voted for elected officials in town

governments Spanish and Portuguese America had little or no

experience voting for representatives Nearly all limited the right to vote to free men owning

property

British colonies in Canada want democracy and effective self rule 1837 – armed rebellion 1840s – Britain allows limited self rule Confederation of 1867

Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia Beginning of the Canadian nation

Latin America drafters of the constitutions had no experience

with elected governments hard to define the political role of the Catholic

Church many early constitutions had tried to reduce its power secular education permitted other religions tried to limit the power of the military strengthened during the wars of independence military leaders would not follow civilian authorities Brazil, led by Pedro I was the exception

Personalist Leaders

Successful leaders gained popularity in the U.S. and Latin America

used patriotic symbols used personal followings to gain national

political leadership ex. Iturbide in Mexico; Bolivar in Gran Columbia

caudillo – a personalist leader who held political power without constitutional sanction

early constitutions excluded the poor from political participation

Personalist leaders often became dictators

Andrew Jackson and Jose Antonio Paez both challenged constitutional limits

Paez – led Bolivar’s cavalry in Venezuela and Columbia

uneducated and poor, his personality and strength made him popular

Bolivar tried to unite Latin America under his rule

Paez declared Venezuela independent Ruled as president or dictator for the next 18 years

Jackson – a self made man was popular among frontier residents, urban

workers and small farmers he served as judge, general, congressman,

senator and President

military success beat the British – Battle of New Orleans in 1815 took Florida from the Sp, in 1818 1828 – elected as President by a landslide 1832 – reelected Was able to take power from Congress

personalist leaders in Latin America didn’t face many obstacles and were able to gain more power than those in the U.S.

The Threat of Regionalism

New governments were weaker than old colonial governments

elites led uprisings or disobeyed laws that threatened their interests

all attempts to form large multi-state federations failed

Republic of Central America Split into 5 separate countries

Gran Columbia Venezuela, Columbia and Ecuador split into separate

countries Bolivia, Uraguay, Paraguay and Argentina

Had been under one viceroyalty, but split after independence in 1830

Argentina Sought strong central government Secular education, free trade and immigration Conservatives

supported Catholic Church education and protection of local products from European imports

rebelled a constitution that went against these values Juan Manuel de Rosas, a caudillo, came to power and

ruled for 20+ years economy expanded use of mob violence and assassination made him

many enemies overthrown in 1852

United States Regional problems ex. Senate in which each state is equally represented

due to small state fears slavery polarized the country

Louisiana Purchase; 1803 War with Mexico to gain Texas New land gains led to a debate over whether slavery

should be allowed to spread immigration led to higher population and more political

power in the north

1860; Abraham Lincoln was elected President Southern states seceded, formed the Confederate

States U.S. Civil War (1861-1865) Union victory led to the abolition of slavery in the U.S.

Foreign Interventions and Regional Wars 19th century – countries that had gained

their independence continued to fight War of 1812

U.S. vs. Great Britain 1898-1899 Mexican-American War

U.S. vs. Spain Gained the Philippines and Puerto Rico

British and French Naval blockades of Argentina

Mexico had to defend itself from Spain in 1829 and the French in 1838

in 1836, Texas gained its independence from Mexico

1848, Mexico was forced to give land to the U.S. (now New Mexico, Arizona and California) for $15 mill.

1862, France invaded Mexico Benito Juarez, forced to flee Mexico French installed the Austrian Hapsburg Maximilian as

emperor Mexican forces drove the Fr out in 1867

Chile defeated the Confederation of Peru and Bolivia

on several occasions Argentina and Brazil fought over Uruguay

until Uruguay’s independence 1865; Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil joined

to fight Paraguay

Native Peoples and the Nation-State In many cases, colonial powers had tried to

protect native people New independent governments were too

weak to protect their frontiers

United States settlers looking for agricultural land pushed into

native territory Tecumseh and his brother formed an

Amerindian Alliance in the Ohio River Valley Tecumseh was killed in the War of 1812

1830 Indian Removal Act Passed by Congress Forced native tribes to settle west of the Mississippi

River Trail of Tears, nearly half of the forced migrants

died

Great Plains Amerindians were more of a challenge

Had mastered the use of horses and firearms Became nomadic buffalo hunters

during the U.S. Civil War disrupted Amerindian trade buffalo herds were hunted to near extinction forced to give up their land and traditions

Argentina and Chile the native people were successful and militarily

strong they had the upper hand until the 1860s

1870s; Argentina & Chile used overwhelming military force

Crushed native resistance

Mexico plantation owners pushed Mayans off of their

land Mayan rebellion 1847, Caste War created their own state until 1870 when they

were defeated by Mexican forces

The Challenge of Social and Economic Change

The Abolition of Slavery

Anti-slavery movements during the independence movements in the North and the South

revolutionary leaders wanted freedom and citizenship

United States slave trade stopped in 1808, slavery continued cotton agriculture was still profitable abolitionists said slavery went against the rights

mentioned in the Declaration of Independence as well as most religions

Women and free African Americans tried to end slavery

Were not granted full citizenship themselves Produced effective propaganda Frederick Douglas

A former slave Abolitionists speaker and writer

U.S. Civil War thousands of black freemen and escaped slaves

fought for the Union 1863 – Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation 1865 – end of the civil war, Thirteenth Amendment

abolished slavery 1880s – increased segregation and racial violence

Spanish America slaves gained freedom by joining revolutionary

armies Brazil and Cuba increased their slave trade

because of profits Brazil

1830 – treaty with the British to end the slave trade

Continued to illegally import slaves Pedro II and many liberals worked to abolish

slavery many slaves joined the army to fight Paraguay 1888 – legislation abolished slavery

Caribbean Islands received 40% of all incoming slaves most people were not interested in

independence slave revolts were inspired by the Haitian

revolts on Saint Domingue abolition resulted from European colonial

powers Slavery lasted longest in Cuba and Puerto Rico

1873 – abolition in Puerto Rico 1886 – abolition in Cuba

End of the slave trade Great Britain ended the slave trade in 1807 asked that Spain, Brazil and others stop trading

slaves as well 1833 - Slavery in British colonies ended

“freed” slaves were required to stay with their masters as “apprentices”

Immigration

19th century wave of immigrants from Europe and Asia

rapid economic growth occupation of frontier regions urbanization

before 1870 most came from Western Europe

after 1870 most came from southern and eastern Europe

U.S. national population increased 1871 – 39 million 1891 – 63 million (62% increase)

Immigration to Latin America and Canada also increased (especially Argentina)

Large numbers of Chinese and Indian immigrants were arriving as well

Hostility to immigration nativist political movements fear and prejudice some immigrants seen as undesirable (Asians)

were more often victims of violence and discrimination 1870s and 1880s –anti-Chinese riots Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 in the U.S. Southern Europeans were also discriminated against

Italians were seen as violent Jews from Eastern Europe

Barred from education and careers Feeling that immigrants accepted low paying jobs and

threatened the national culture

Assimilation movements attempt to create a national language and a

national culture through education

American Cultures

Immigration altered culture and politics creation of ethnic clubs and neighborhoods

acculturation – modification of culture of a group due to contact with people from another culture

Women’s Rights and the Struggle for Social Justice Political and economic discrimination

towards blacks, women, new immigrants and native peoples

United States The Women’s Rights Convention

“We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men and women are created equal.”

women began to demand the right to vote tried to improve working conditions for women

Canada Progress equally slow

1895 – first time a woman could receive a medical degree in Canada

Women led the way in temperance, child welfare and labor reform

Argentina and Uruguay First L. American nations to provide education for

women Improvements were seen faster in low level

careers that did not financially threaten men

Racial discrimination blacks were denied the vote in the Southern

U.S. segregation

segregation was not as evident in Latin America, but there was discrimination

Development and Underdevelopment Western Hemisphere was richer in 1900 than in

1800 industrial revolution, population growth, and an

integrated world market Exports: wheat, corn, wool, meats, non-precious

minerals, silver, sugar, dyes, coffee and cotton Governments invested in roads, railroads, canals and

telegraphs mining booms in Western U.S., Mexico and Chile

new technology meant dependence on foreign money

two economy types development – improved and modernized underdevelopment – stuck in the colonial

system of selling raw materials and low wage industries

Altered Environments

Western Hemisphere introduction of new technologies, plants and

animals deforestation in Cuba the spread of ranching in Argentina,

Uruguay and Brazil use of the steel plow caused soil erosion in

the plains of N. America and Argentina

slash and burn agriculture in Brazil Urbanization

the difficulties of providing clean water, removing garbage and sewage

railroads led to deforestation conservation efforts began