Late 19th century and

20th centuries Snapshot

Latin America

& Mexico

(after independence)

Cultural & Social Continuities

• Roman Catholicism as a belief system– Influences politics

• Importance of the family and strong patriarchy

• Large gap between upper classes and lower classes.

• Native beliefs and identity

Cultural and Social Changes• Liberation Theology - Roman Catholic non-

violent activists working to end social inequality and unjust treatment of the poor

• Protestant Evangelical Christianity has grown.

• Globalization – has led to changes in culture, gender roles, and youth

Political Changes New Nation States in the 19th century:

Political Continuities• Importance of the military

– Military leadership took control to end chaos or solve problems others couldn’t solve.

• Caudillo Political Leadership– Military leaders who rose to

power– Many became dictators

Political Changes• Revolutionary groups have challenged political

power– Socialist/Communist groups – Native groups– Terrorist Groups

• Laborers have supported changes in leadership.• Mexican Revolution of the early 1900s led to

nationalization of resources and industry• Cuban Revolution – Fidel Castro led communist

revolution in Cuba

Continuity in Latin America – US involvement

Economic ContinuitiesDependency on the West• Plantation then estate

agriculture for export was a base of the economies.

• Western markets determined Latin American exports.

• Latin America was dependent on Western investment and manufactured goods.

• Limited industrialization.

Economic Changes• Mining and early oil

industry began• Extension of road,

rail, and canal networks

Change - Effects of the Great Depression on Latin America

• Foreign investments and purchases declined

• The liberals were discredited and so was Western capitalism

• Violent coups in 12 countries.

Change-Effects of World Wars on Latin America

• Import substitution industrialization – growth in industry in Latin America to manufacture what had been imported

• Distrust of Western ideas of government and economy. Growth of . . .– Socialism/communism– Liberation theology

Economic Changes• Drug trafficking had

both political and economic effects in regions of Latin America.

Central America Drug Trafficking routes