I.
Nation-Building (1800-1890)
Latin American Independence (1800-1830)
Roots of Revolution (Up to 1810)
Wealthy upset with colonial officials’ authority (political and economic power)
High taxes
Imperial monopolies
Inspired by Enlightenment, American Revolution, and French Revolution
Portugal ruling family fled to Brazil to escape French attack (1807)
(Napoleon)
-King John VI ruled for decade (1816-1826)
-helped maintain the loyalty of the colonial elite
Dissenters in Venezuela, Mexico, Bolivia – overthrew Spanish colonial officials in 18081809
The Spanish authorities did reassert control but new revolutions began in 1810
Spanish South America: 1810-1825:
Creoles announced independence of Venezuela (1811)
Spanish were able to rally free blacks and slaves to defend Spanish Empire
Reason: Revolution leaders (junta) – only helping Creole landholders
Simón Bolívar – leader of Venezuelan Revolution
Recruited slaves and free blacks
loyalty of his troops
Defeated Spain (1824) – tried to unite Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador into one country –
failure – other attempts failed too in trying to create a confederation of former Spanish
colonies
Buenos Aires, Argentina – another revolutionary center of activity
1816 – Spain – Ferdinand regained Spanish throne
Local leaders declared independence (United Provinces of Rio de la Plata) – new
government weak – political chaos
Mexico: 1810-1823
1810: Mexico – richest colony in Spanish Empire
However, Amerindians dislocated – mining, commercial activities
-Crop failures
-Epidemics
September 16, 1810: Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla (Priest) – organized rebellion – violent –
Hidalgo executed; leader of movement became José María Morelos
Loyalists defeated rebellion – Morelos executed (1811)
1821: military revolt in Spain
Colonel Agustín de Iturbide = declared Mexico independent
-declared himself emperor
1823: Army overthrew Iturbide – Mexico became a republic
Brazil Up to 1831:
King John VI of Portugal ruled from Brazil until 1821, then he returned to Lisbon,
Portugal when unrest in Portugal and Spain stopped
Son: Pedro – stayed in Brazil (ruled until 1822)
Declared Brazil independent constitutional monarchy
-Became King
Liberal policies - Opposed slavery
Slaveholders upset
Tried to control Uruguay by military force
-Heavy losses (militarily and economically)
Pedro I abdicated throne (1822)
Son: Pedro II reigned until his overthrow in 1889 by republicans
Constitutional Experiments:
United States: colonial governments – representative government = success in
constitutionalism
Latin America: inexperienced in popular government = failure of Constitution
Canada: British gave limited self-rule to provinces in 1840s
1867: Dominion of Canada (Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia)
Capital = Ottawa
Latin America:
Untested, impractical institutions
Could not define political role of Roman Catholic Church
-Hard time making military subordinate to civilian governments
-Few citizens willing to support civilian politicians against the military
United States and Latin America = successful leaders used military reputations
Latin America slow in development of stability = personalist politics – more influential
than United States
First Constitutions of all of American republics = a lot of poor citizens excluded from full
participation
Led to populist leaders: who fought for poor and excluded
-Sometimes used politics to undermine constitution and move towards dictatorship
Example: Andrew Jackson: United States (1829-1837)
José Antonio Páez: Venezuela (1830-1835); (1839-1843); (1861-1863)
Venezuela: President Páez – declared independence from Gran Colombia (1829)
Became President (Dictator-like)
President Andrew Jackson (US) – Increased Presidential powers and lowered powers of
Congress and Supreme Court
Personalist Leaders:
Páez and Jackson – identified with common people, although they both, in practice,
promoted property owners
Latin America:
-Had less property rights protection, low literacy, little communication systems
Result: Personalist leaders able to become dictators
After Independence:
Weak central governments – unable to control regional elites starting secession
movements
Spanish America: all post-independence efforts to create multistate federations failed
Central America split from Mexico: 1823
Separated into 5 nations: Gran Colombia, Ecuador, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Bolivia –
declared independence from Argentina
Regionalism threatened United States: slavery
Confederacy vs. United States (Union)
United States Civil War (1861-1865)
Confederacy failed
-Slavery ended
-Power transferred from plantation south to industrial north
Western Hemisphere: new states most vulnerable during 1st decades of independence
Confederacy failed: United States government was well-established, experienced,
increasing economic growth, increasing population
19th Century:
Wars between Western Hemisphere nations and invasions from European countries =
defined national borders
-Access to natural resources and control of markets
End of 19th Century: United States, Brazil, Argentina, Chile = successful wars against
neighbors and became regional powers
European military intervention:
War of 1812
Spanish American War: 1898-1899
French and English blockade on Argentina
English naval blockade of Brazil
Spanish and French invasions of Mexico
French: 1862 ousted Benito Juárez and replaced him with Emperor Maximilian Habsburg
as Emperor
Benito Juárez and Mexico defeated French in 1867: Maximilian executed
United States War vs. Mexico (1846-1848)
(Mexican War)
United States gained Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado (1848)
Chile defeated Peru and Bolivia in 2 wars (1836-1839) and (1879-1881)
Chile took over nitrate mines
-forced Bolivia to give up only outlet to sea
Argentina and Brazil – fought over control of Uruguay (1820s)
-eventually recognized Uruguay’s independence
Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay: 5 year war with Paraguay
-Paraguay defeated, occupied, lost territory – forced Paraguay to open up its country to
foreign trade
New nations: did not protect the Amerindians – posed challenge in both North America
and South America
By 1880s: North and South American governments overcame Amerindians
United States:
Western Expansion = conflict with Amerindians (1790-1810)
Example: Tecumseh and Prophet (1811-1812)
Indian Removal Act of 1830 = Amerindians moved west of Mississippi River
Great Plains Indians became skilled with horses and firearms = resistance and hunted
buffalo
Almost led to the near extinction of buffalo and loss of land
Four decade conflict with United States, then lost and forced to reservation life
Argentina and Chile: Amerindians held their own until 1860s
High population, Political stability, and military modernization led to more powerful
governments
1870s: drove Amerindians to marginal land
Mexico:
Yucatán Peninsula – forced Maya off land into poverty
1847: During, Mexican War; Maya rose up on Yucatán Peninsula (Caste War)
Maya was almost successful