Lecture Notes Feb 20, 2012: The Age of Caudillos: 1820s-1870s
Discussion question
1. Who were some of the caudillos who emerged from the wars of independence?
Consider the independence heroes: Bolívar, San Martín, Iturbide, Pedro I, etc…
Can you think of any others from the readings?
2. Who was the caudillo and why was he “necessary” (according to many) after the chaotic wars of independence and severing relations with the motherland.
Who? : The caudillo was the military strongman, the macho, the paterfamilias and the leader of the nation:
Think George Washington.
In Latin American caudillos typically wanted to rule for life, however.
Why?. Many locals as well as some foreign observers of the time believed that the “caudillo” was essential type of leader for order and progress because:
1.
the people, (both elite and the popular masses wanted/needed order to pursue economic development
2.
they remembered the chaos of the revolutionary period and especially
Haiti and wanted to avoid that scenario at all costs
3.
the Catholic corporatist hierarchical society encouraged strong male leaders through the cultural idea of machismo
Caudillos had to secure the support of the elite (or at least a portion of the elite).
He could exile, imprison or kill those who did not agree with him) as well as the popular classes.
The Argentine caudillo as prototype fro the age of caudillos:
Juan Manuel Rosas: during age of dictators:
Ruled from 1829-1852
In the case of Juan Manuel Rosas in Argentina, he garnered the support of big landowners, the rural cowboys of the Pampas or gauchos, and the Afro-

Argentines in Buenos Aires and other cities, who he employed in the army, as spies, and in a host of other institutions.
Rosas was a charismatic leader with a great deal of rapport with the masses.
Despite coming from a wealthy background and being autocratic he attempted to embody the values of the popular classes in his dress, in popular festivals and in the language he used. He utilized the image of the gaucho and his love for independence. Think of the myths and ideas of the American cowboy.
Make no mistake: Rosas was a dictator and a patriarch. He ruled with an iron fist, as can be seen in the movie Camila. The main character was an historical figure who unwittingly challenged the Rosas regime. See the film Camila—we will discuss it briefly at the beginning of class on Monday (Feb27).
Rosas made many enemies, particularly intellectuals who went into exile, but
Rosas also celebrated local culture and Hispanic values, including the Catholic heritage. One important intellectual exiled by Rosas would later become president. His name was Domingo Sarmiento. His book Civilization and
Barbarism is a classic of Modern Latin America. In this book Sarmiento argued that Argentina and by extension Latin America and its backward Catholic folk traditions like gaucho culture were barbaric. In order to pursue development
Argentina would have to adopt European values, attract European immigrants and become more like liberal European states, particularly England.
Caudillos have been mythologized in Latin America and have become national symbols and myths [both negative and positive]. Their legacies have influenced leaders as well as revolutionaries. In the talk on Che Guevara in RAJ Tuesday evening, the speaker will focus on the Argentine revolutionary who took part in the Cuban revolution. He was one of the most important revolutionaries of the twentieth century, and we will read him later in class.
Although the speaker will focus on the 20th century, as historians I want you to think about:
1.
Similarities between caudillos and revolutionaries.
2.
Was Che Guevara a 20 th century caudillo? Why or why not?
3.
Many American students wear T-shirts with Che Guevara on it? Would
19 th century peoples have worn symbols of Rosas? [think about the film Camila]

4.
Please ask the speaker any of the above questions that would help you understand the links between Latin America in the 19 th century and
Latin America today, or more specifically on Argentina.
5.
Please feel free to post any comments on this blog about the talk or email me your comments and I will share them with the class.