MODERN
LATIN AMERICAN
HISTORY
Honors Non-Western Studies ~~ Mr.Tumino
Prentice Hall World History
Ch. 8, section 3; Ch. 13, section 4; Ch. 16,
section 1; Chapter 24, sections 1-4
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What Caused Discontent in Latin America?
By the late 1700s, the revolutionary fever that gripped
Western Europe had spread to Latin America. There,
discontent was rooted in the social, racial, and political
system that had emerged during 300 years of Spanish
rule.


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
Creoles resented their second-class status.
Mestizos and mulattoes were angry at being
denied the status, wealth, and power available to
whites.
Native Americans suffered economic misery under
the Spanish.
Enslaved Africans who worked on plantations longed
for freedom.
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Struggles for Independence
HAITI
MEXICO
In 1791, Toussaint L’Ouverture
led slaves in revolt.
Father Miguel Hidalgo and José
Morales led popular revolts.
By 1798, enslaved Haitians
had been freed.
In 1802, Napoleon sent an
army to recapture Haiti.
Rebels led by Agustín de Iturbide
overthrew the Spanish viceroy,
creating an independent
Mexico.
Napoleon’s forces agreed to a
truce, or temporary peace.
Iturbide took the title of emperor,
but was quickly overthrown.
In 1804, Haitian leaders
declared independence.
Liberal Mexicans set up the
Republic of Mexico.
CENTRAL AMERICA
Spanish-ruled lands declared
their independence in the
early 1820s.
Local leaders set up the
United Provinces of Central
America.
The union soon fragmented
into separate republics of
Guatemala, Nicaragua,
Honduras, El Salvador, and
Costa Rica.
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Independence in South America
In South America, Native Americans had rebelled against Spanish rule as
early as the 1700s, with limited results. It was not until the 1800s that
discontent sparked a widespread drive for independence.
Simon Bolívar, called “The Liberator,” led an uprising that
established a republic in Venezuela. He then captured Bogotá,
Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia.

In 1816, José de San Martín helped Argentina win freedom
from Spain. He then joined forces with Bolívar.

Bolívar tried to unite the liberated lands into a single nation
called Gran Columbia. However, bitter rivalries made that
dream impossible. Before long, Gran Columbia split into
three independent countries:Venezuela, Columbia, and
Ecuador.
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Independent Nations of Latin America About 1844
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Independence Movements in Latin America
Long-Term Causes
Immediate Causes
Spread of Enlightenment ideas
People of Latin America resent colonial
rule and social injustices
American and French revolutions
Revolutionary leaders emerge
Growth of nationalism in Latin America
Napoleon invades Spain and ousts
Spanish king
Immediate Effects
Long-Term Effects
European domination of Latin America
Toussaint L‘Ouverture leads slave
revolt in Haiti
Bolívar, San Martín, and others lead
successful revolts in Latin America
Colonial rule ends in much of Latin
America
Attempts made to rebuild economies
18 separate republics set up
Continuing efforts to achieve stable
democratic governments and to gain
economic independence
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Political Problems
During the 1800s, most Latin American nations
were plagued by revolts, civil war, and dictatorships.

Many problems had their origins in colonial rule,
as independence barely changed the existing
social and political hierarchy.

With few roads and no traditions of unity, the
new nations were weakened by regionalism,
loyalty to a local area.
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The Economics of Dependence
Economic dependence occurs when lessdeveloped nations export raw materials and
commodities to industrial nations and import
manufactured goods, capital, and technological
know-how. The relationship is unequal because the
more developed — and wealthier nation — can
control prices and terms of trade.
Under colonial rule, mercantilist policies made Latin
America economically dependent on Spain and
Portugal. After independence, this pattern changed
very little. The region remained as economically
dependent as before.
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The Influence of the United States
In 1823, the United States issued the Monroe Doctrine, which stated that
the American continents were no longer open to colonization by any
European powers.
In 1904, the United States issued the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe
Doctrine. Under this policy, the United States claimed “international police
power” in the Western Hemisphere.

In the next decade, the United States frequently intervened
militarily in Latin American nations to protect American lives and
investments.
In 1903, the United States backed the Panamanians in a revolt against
Colombia in order to gain land to build the Panama Canal.

To people in Latin America, the canal was an example of
“Yankee Imperialism.”
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Imperialism in the Caribbean and South America, 1898–1917
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New Economic Patterns

A truly global economy emerged, dominated by the United
States, Britain, France, and Germany.

Colonial rulers introduced a money economy that
replaced the old barter system.

Mass-produced goods from the industrialized world
further disrupted traditional economies.

Local economies that had once been self-sufficient became
dependent on the industrial powers.
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Cultural Impact

As westerners conquered other lands, they pressed
subject people to accept “modern” ways. By this,
they meant western ideas, government, technology,
and culture.
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Many non-westerners, especially in conquered
lands, came to accept a belief in western superiority.
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The overwhelming successes of the western
imperialist nations sapped people’s confidence in
their own leaders and cultures.
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Western culture spread around the world.
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Causes of the Mexican Revolution
Most Mexicans were peasants who lived in
desperate poverty.
Factory workers and miners earning meager
wages were restless and angry.
Middle-class liberals, who embraced democracy,
opposed the lengthy Díaz dictatorship.
A liberal reformer, Francisco Madero, encouraged
revolt.
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Reforms in Mexico
The Constitution of 1917:
 permitted the breakup of large estates
 placed restrictions on foreigners owning land
 allowed nationalization, or government takeover, of natural
resources
 made church land “the property of the nation”
 set a minimum wage
 protected workers’ right to strike
 gave some protections to women
In the 1920s, the government also:
 helped some Indian communities regain lands that had been
taken from them
 launched a massive effort to combat illiteracy
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How Did Nationalism Affect Mexico?
A tide of economic nationalism, or emphasis on domestic control
of the economy, swept through Mexico and other Latin American
countries.
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Local entrepreneurs set up factories to produce goods.
The government nationalized resources and took over foreignowned industries.
In Mexico and in other Latin American countries, writers, artists, and
thinkers began to reject European influences. Instead, they took pride
in their own culture. Pride in one’s own culture is called cultural
nationalism.

A revival of mural painting, a major art form of the Aztecs, took
place. Muralists like Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco, and
David Alfaro Siqueiros created magnificent works.
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The Good Neighbor Policy
The United States played the role of “international policeman,”
intervening to restore order when it felt its interests were
threatened. This included sending troops to Latin American
countries to protect American interests.
These actions stirred up anti-American feelings among Latin
Americans.
In the 1930s, President Franklin Roosevelt pledged to follow the
Good Neighbor Policy. The United States withdrew troops
stationed in Haiti and Nicaragua. It also lifted the Platt
Amendment, which had limited Cuban independence.
Why Is Latin America a Diverse
Region?
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Conquest
 After 1492, Europeans imposed their civilization on Native
Americans.
Immigration
 Since the late 1800s, immigrants from Europe and Asia have
contributed to the diversity.
Intermarriage
 As Europeans, Native Americans, and Africans mingled, they
created new cultures.
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Ethnic Diversity in Latin America
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Sources of Unrest

A growing gulf between the rich and the poor fueled
discontent in the postwar era.
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A population explosion contributed to poverty.
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Pressure on the land contributed to a great migration
that sent millions of peasants to the cities.
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Political Forces in Latin America
Most Latin American states had constitutions modeled on those
of France and the United States. Yet, real democracy seemed
difficult to achieve in nations plagued by poverty and inequality.
•
Conflict between conservatives and reformers contributed to
political instability in many nations.
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Military leaders held power in many Latin American nations.
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During the 1960s and 1970s, guerrillas and urban terrorists
battled repressive governments in many Latin American
countries.
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By the mid-1980s, inflation, debt, and growing protests led
repressive leaders to step aside.
•
A number of countries held elections to replace military
governments with civilian governments.
•
Heavy debt burden and economic slowdowns have
threatened the success of elected rulers, putting the stability of
democratic governments in the region in doubt.
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Economic Development
By the 1960s, Latin America faced growing competition from African and Asian
nations.
To reduce dependence on imported goods, many governments encouraged the
development of local industries. This policy, called import substitution, had
mixed success.
Over the past 60 years, large areas of land were opened up to farming. Much of
the best farmland belonged to agribusiness. Commercial agriculture increased
the need to import food.
In the 1980s, the region was rocked by economic crisis.
In the 1990s, free trade organizations, such as NAFTA, opened Latin American
economies to larger markets. The mutual support and expanded markets of these
organizations did bring some economic growth in the years around 2000.
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Changing Social Patterns
In Latin America, as elsewhere, urbanization brought
social upheaval.
URBANIZATION
City life weakened the
extended family.
The struggle to make a
living caused some
families to fall apart.
In large cities, thousands
of abandoned or runaway
children roamed the
streets.
WOMEN
RELIGION
Upper-class women had
access to education and
careers.
The Catholic Church has
remained a powerful
force.
Rural women often faced
hardship and poverty.
Women struggled to win
change.
During the 1960s and
1970s, the Church
crusaded for social
justice and an end to
poverty. This movement
became known as
liberation theology.
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Communism in Cuba
In the late 1950s, Fidel Castro turned Cuba into a communist
state. Castro:

nationalized foreign-owned sugar plantations and other businesses
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put most land under government control
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distributed land to peasants
Effects of communist rule:
Castro imposed harsh authoritarian rule.
Conditions for the poor improved, basic health care was provided for all,
the literacy rate increased, and equality for women was promoted.
Critics were jailed or silenced and hundreds of thousands fled to the
United States.
When the Cold War ended, Soviet aid disappeared, and Cuba’s economy
collapsed.
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The United States and Latin America
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The United States was the leading investor and trading partner
for most nations in Latin America.
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During the Cold War, the United States intervened repeatedly
in Latin America to protect its interests and to prevent the
spread of communism.

The United States saw itself as the defender of democracy and
capitalism and the source of humanitarian aid. Many Latin
Americans, however, resented living under the shadow of the
“colossus of the north.”

Latin American nations and the United States worked together
in the Organization of American States (OAS). The organization
was formed in 1948 to promote democracy, economic
cooperation, and human rights.
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Regional and Global Issues
REGIONAL TIES
Regional trading blocs gained
importance in the 1990s. Such
groups created larger markets by
lowering trade barriers among
neighboring countries.
Examples: NAFTA, Mercosur
DEVELOPMENT VERSUS
ENVIRONMENT
Developing nations insisted that they
needed to exploit their land and other
resources if they wanted economic
growth. This came at the expense of
the environment.
THE DRUG WARS
Drug cartels in Latin America began
exporting ever-larger quantities of
cocaine and other drugs.
In the 1980s, the United States
declared a “war on drugs,” pressing
Latin American governments to
cooperate with these efforts.
MIGRATION
Poverty, civil war, and repressive
governments caused Latin American
immigration to the United States to
increase rapidly after the 1970s.
Pressure increased in the United States to
halt illegal immigration.
Continuity and
Change in Mexico
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After the Mexican Revolution, government officials became committed to
improving conditions for the poor. At the end of the 1900s, however,
Mexico remained a disturbing mix of poverty and prosperity.
Since the Mexican Revolution, a single party — the Institutional
Revolutionary Party (PRI) — dominated Mexican politics. In the 1990s, the
PRI began to lose its monopoly on power.
In the 1930s, the Mexican government distributed millions of acres of land
to peasants. Over the years, as economic conditions worsened, many
peasants migrated to towns and cities. The population of Mexico City
mushroomed from 1.5 million in 1940 to about 20 million in 1995.
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War and Peace in Central America
In Central America, unrest threatened and discontent grew.
Fearing the spread of communism, the U.S. intervened
repeatedly in the region.
NICARAGUA
In 1979, revolutionaries
called Sandinistas ousted
the ruling Somoza family.
Fearing that Nicaragua
would become socialist, the
United States secretly
backed the “contras” in a
long civil war against the
Sandinistas.
GUATEMALA
Fearing communist influence,
the United States helped oust
Guatemala’s reformist
government in 1954.
While the military regained
power, decades of civil war
ensued, during which the
government routinely tortured
and murdered critics.
EL SALVADOR
During a vicious civil war,
right-wing death squads
slaughtered anyone thought
to sympathize with the
leftists.
The United States pressed
for reform, but at the same
time provided weapons and
other aid to help the military
battle rebel guerrillas.
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Struggle in Haiti
POLITICAL
STRUGGLES
Haiti endured brutal dictatorial
rule from 1957 until 1986.
A succession of military
leaders then ruled the nation
until 1990.
In 1990, in its first free
elections, Jean-Bertrand
Aristide was chosen as
president.
Aristide was overthrown by a
military coup, but restored to
power by the United States.
ECONOMIC
STRUGGLES
Haiti is the poorest state in the
Western Hemisphere, lacking
adequate roads, electricity,
and other services.
The weakness of the
government discouraged
foreign investment.
A skewed distribution of
wealth put most of the
productive land in the hands
of one or two percent of the
citizens.
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From Dictatorship to Democracy in Argentina
From 1946 to 1955, the authoritarian government of Juan Perón
stifled opposition.
In 1955, Perón was ousted by a military coup.
For two decades, the military was in and out of power.
In 1973, Perón returned to power. When he died the next year,
his second wife, Isabel Perón, became president. When she
faced economic and political crises, the military took over.
To combat leftist guerrillas, the army waged a “dirty war,”
torturing and murdering as many as 20,000 people.
In 1983, an elected government restored democracy. Despite
some setbacks, democratic rule survived.
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Economic Activity in Argentina
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Government in Brazil
Between 1930 and 1945, dictator Getúlio
Vargas allied himself with the working poor.
In 1945, the military overthrew Vargas.
The military allowed elected presidents
to rule for the next 20 years.
In the mid-1980s, the military eased their grip
on power. Brazilians voted directly for a
president for the first time in 29 years.
In 1964, economic problems and fear of
communism led the military to take over
again.
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Urbanization in Brazil
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Brazil’s Economic Miracle
Beginning in the 1930s, Brazil diversified its economy and, for a
time, chalked up impressive growth. Brazil’s prosperity enriched
only a few. To most Brazilians, it brought little or no benefit.
In the 1980s, Brazil faced a host of economic problems — from
inflation to a staggering debt. One of the greatest economic
problems was the unequal distribution of land.
In the 1990s, President Fernando Henrique Cardoso, provided
strong leadership for Brazil. His policies promoted rapid economic
growth and helped limit inflation. He promised to distribute land to
300,000 families.