Latin America in the 19th Century

Latin American Independence

Ended Spanish and Portuguese colonial rule between 1807 and 1824

Many Reasons for movements across Latin America:

War with France caused Spain to loosen control in Americas

The war forced Portuguese Royalty and rule to flee to Brazil

Once Independent, Spanish & Brazilian colonies were unprepared for self government

Latin American Independence

Before the Napoleonic Wars, independence movements were already kindling across Latin and South Americas

When Bolivar arrived in Venezuela in 1812, Revolution was already underway

Bolivar assured Independence with the victory at The Battle of Carabobo, on June 24 1821

Latin America at Mid Century

The Decade of the 1820s saw reform across Latin America, although much was superficial

The 1830s-1840s were focused on attaining order, as well as moderate questioning of religious, social, and economical policies

General international trade increased five-fold between 1840-1870, and US exports increased 8 fold between 1845-1880 across much of Latin America

Latin America at Mid Century

Andre Gunder Frank suggests that liberal reform depends on a country's specialized exports (sugar, coffee, tea) rather than exposure to liberal schools of thought

By Mid-century, a generational shift occurred, which as well contributed to sweeping reformations

Exceptions like Brazil, with its late abolition of slavery yet early religious tolerance, and Ecuador, with its early abolitionism, then dictatorial control under Garcia Moreno, broke the molds but still pushed forward into modernism

Britain's Influence on Latin America

At the end of 1824, Britain looked to trade with the now freed Spanish Territories

Merchants with cargoed goods established themselves on Atlantic and Pacific coasts

At least one third of trade was with Brazil in 1845, and the overall value of trades with Latin America was valued at an estimated 6.0 Million Pounds a year

Britain's economic interest in Latin America peaked between mid 1870s to early 1890s

Britain's Influence on Latin America

Excepting politics, Britain was involved with and treating their Latin American trading partners as if they were British colonies

By mid-20th century, Britain's involvement in Latin America greatly diminished

World War I allowed the United States to step in and take over for Europe's dwindling presence

By the 1920's, the majority of Foreign Investment in Latin America came from New York

Mexico's War of the Reforma

The Ley Juarez (November 23, 1855) and Ley Lerdo (June 25, 1856) sparked the conflict dually known as the War of the Reforma, and the Three Years War

Ley Juarez (Juarez Law) abolished special military and clerical priviledge, making all citizens equal in eyes of the law

Ley Lerdo forced sales of all land owned by the Roman Catholic Church

Liberals in Mexico sought to rid themselves of restrictions on economic growth and capitalism in their new republic

French Intervention in Mexico

Napoleon III intervened in 1861 in an effort to instill Archduke Ferdinand Maximillian as Mexican Emperor

Juarez' victory in the Three Year War left him 82.2 Million Pesos indebted to foreign powers, and was forced to delay payments to deal with Maximilian

As the war stretched on, Maximilian's dependance on Napoleon's wealth increased

After war's end, thousands of Mexican soldiers skilled in guerrilla warfare were suddenly unemployed, and spread across Mexico and the future American Southwest as banditos.

Mexico

Mexico is the 5th largest country in the world, and in Latin America second in population only to Brazil

Mexico and the United States share a 1900 mile long border, the longest in the world between a fully developed country and one that is still developing

Spanish colonialism converted 90% of the population to Spanish speaking Catholics, with Nahuatl being the second dominant language spoken by 8% of the inhabitants

Mexico

After World War II, Mexico has moved away from Agrarian-based economy, once Mexico's mainstay in economics

Mexico is a leading producer of Crude Oil, as well as one of the top producers of Silver

Mexico is a very important player in United States economics, as a member of NAFTA as well as being the USA's 3rd largest trading partner