Nation%20Building%20in%20Latin%20America

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Nation Building in Latin America
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Social Structure in Latin America

• Peninsulares- held all important positions
• Creoles- descendents of Europeans born in Latin
  America- seen as 2nd class citizens
• Mestizos- worked as servants or laborers-largest
  group

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REVOLTS!

• Revolutionary ideas in Latin America were sparked
  by the successes of revolutions in North America

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Mexico

• Miguel Hidalgo-priest, influenced by French
  revolution, rallied Native Americans and Mestizos
• Formed mob army and attacked Spaniards on
  September 16, 1810 (still Mexicos independence
  day)

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• Peninsulares and creoles scared and went along
  with everyone to overthrow the Spanish
• Mexico independent from Spain in 1821.

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South America
Simon Bolivar of Venezuela
Jose de San Martin of Argentina

• Both led major revolts and were considered
• Liberators of South America

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• By the end of 1824,
• Peru
• Uruguay
• Paraguay
• Colombia
• Venezuela
• Argentina
• Bolivia
• Chile
• All became free states!!!

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• Central American states became independent in
  1823.
• Divided into 5 republics in 1838 and 1839.

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Monroe Doctrine
James Monroe

• Pres. James Monroe upset with British interest in
  Latin America after the Spanish left and
  declared,
• henceforth not to be considered as subjects for
  future colonization by any European powers
• Bold move at the time, especially considering the
  size of the British navy!

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Issues

• Had trouble acting as independent nations
• Border disputes
• Lack of railroads, sufficient road systems
• Wars resulted in loss of people, property and
  livestock
• National unity
• Lack of political experience
• Wealth often in the hands of a select few
• Often new nations became dependent on western
  nations as they had during the colonial period

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U.S. involvement in Latin America

• Cuba becomes U.S. protectorate
• Puerto Rico annexed to the U.S.
• Both results of Spanish-American War

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• U.S. supports Panama rebellion that allowed
  Panama to separate from Columbia
• U.S. builds Panama Canal

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• U.S. becomes huge force throughout Latin America
• Military forces were sent all over Latin America
  to protect Americas interests
• Many Latin American nations began to resent the
  big bully to the north.

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Economic Change

• After 1870, Latin America began an age of
  prosperity due to the export a few basic items
• Argentina wheat and beef
• Brazil coffee
• Central America bananas
• Peru sugar and silver
• Middle sectors of society began to grow
• These were the educated, with decent incomes that
  wanted a reform, not a revolution