Class Notes: Background to Latin American
Independence
Enlightenment: Also called Age of Reason-to transform
society using reason (rather than faith or tradition) i.e. self
determination rather than pre-determination; democracy
over monarchy; freedom of thought versus strict belief in
church doctrine.
Nativism: a political attitude pitting all those of native
birth against those born elsewhere. Nativist attitudes,
promoted by the patriots during the independence wars,
were part of the early development of nationalism.
Nationalism: a political movement (dominant in the mid1900s) espousing a strong state, national pride, and
economic development. Latin American nationalists
oppose “imperialist” outside influence.
Mercantilism: Colonies and colonial trade exist strictly for
the benefit of the mother country.
Transculturation: the creative interaction between two
cultures, resulting in a new culture. Transculturation
among Europeans, Africans, and indigenous Americans
created distinctive Latin American cultures.
Iberia: the peninsular defining the southwestern extreme of
Europe, separated from France by the Pyrenees Mountains.
Both the Spanish and Portuguese are Iberians, so that the
term is often used to discuss their combined colonial
presence in America.
Liberalism: a cluster of political ideas, emphasizing
liberties of various civil (individualism), political (selfgovernance), and economic (free trade) kinds. Latin
American liberalism focused on European and, later, US
models.
Peninsulares- Whites born in Spain
Renios-Whites born in Portugal
Creoles- Whites born in Spanish America
Mazambos- Whites born in Brazil
Spanish colonial empire endured for over three
centuries. What were the causes of its demise?
Economic;
New Laws of the Indies(1542)- tried to do away with
encomiendas, outlawed native slavery, establishes
repartmiento and mita.
Colonial reaction-‘obedezco pero no cumplo’
I accept your authority, but will not comply.
Colonial trade- Casa de Contraccion held a monopoly on
all trade with the colonies.
Only Seville and Cadiz in Spain and Veracruz and
Portobelo in the Americas could send and receive goods.
Usually only one fleet per year.
Colonists smuggled and set up black market with Dutch,
English and French.(especially Buenos Aires and Caracas)
Spain-Losing the Race of Industrialization
Colonial industries established in areas such as textiles,
glasswares, shoes, tiles and furniture. Crown tries to fight
“unnecessary diversification” of the colonial economy.
Most elites are landowners, as in Spain, look down on
merchants, craftsmen and anything they see as dishonorable
professions. Entrepreneurs take back seat to tradition.
Society:
Patriarchal- male dominated at all levels-especially in
interior ‘el patron’ (caudillo) is center of all activity on
haciendas, ranches and plantations.
Legal caste system in place- recorded by the church
Low castes could not be priests, attend university, wear
silk, own weapons…
Rules against reproducing between classes- of course it
happened and the castes get blurred.
Transculturation- the “Americano” is being born!
To raise money the Crown sells ‘legal whiteness’
Rivalry between Peninsulares( in Brazil-Renois) and
Creoles(in Brazil-Mazambos)
Pens. Got most of the high government and church posts,
make money then return to Spain was the goal
Creoles wanted higher authority, felt slighted
Owned a large % of land
Birth of nativism and eventually nationalism!
Religion: Rooted in Roman Catholic faith and structurereinforced traditional, patriarchal and hierarchical society
To be Spanish, or Portugese, was to be Catholic
1757- Problems between colonial elite and Jesuits over
mission lands and natives, mixed with Crown’s questions
over Jesuit wealth, power and most of all loyalty to Spain,
led to the expulsion of Jesuits and the destruction of their
missions.
Politics: Crown officials-viceroys, archbishops, Council of
the Indies, Intendant (judges), Casa de Contraccion (taxes,
trade)
Heavy systematic bureaucracy- tradition was the way
Colonial officials- dominated by Creoles -Cabildos local
authorities- relative autonomy
Local court judgeships could be bought
Militia officer posts go to Creoles-(fuero militar)
Bourbon reforms- had the goal of making Spain more
competitive with other European powers, by developing
industry, improving agriculture and building a middle class.
Decree of Free Trade 1778- all ports in Latin America and
Spain are open to trade with one another, but not other
countries!
Had initial success but was doomed to fail for three reasons
1. left out the Creole majority
2. Spain’s industrial weakness
3. Spain’s inability to keep up trade with the colonies
Napolean’s invasion and conquest of the Iberian Peninsular
Further drives a wedge between Spain and the Creoles.
A central Junta is established in Cadiz- not recognized by
the colonials who set up their own juntas to rule in the
name of Ferdinand.