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Consolidation of Latin America

Chapter 25

Unit 5:1750-1900

Haitian Revolution

• Influenced by the American

and French revolutions,

Touissant l’Overture led

Haitian slaves in revolt in

1791

• Napoleon’s troops were

unable to regain control of

the island and the Republic

of Haiti was recognized in

1804

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Spanish Colonial Revolutions

• The confusion in Spain caused by Napoleon’s

invasion caused a colonial crisis

• Creoles led successful revolutions across Latin

America

– Father Miguel Hidalgo sparked Mexico’s revolution

in 1810

– Successful unification of army and rebels by

Augustine de Iturbide allowed for independence

in 1821

• Simon Bolivar led revolt

in Gran Colombia from

1817-1822

– Venezuela, Columbia, and

Ecuador

• Jose de San Martin led

revolt in Rio de la Plata

from 1816-1825

– Argentina, Chile,

Paraguay, Uruguay, and

Bolivia

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Social and Political Difficulties

• Despite the legal end of the castas system,

social distinctions between creole, mestizo,

and indians remained

– Majority of leaders until late nineteenth century

were creoles

• Disagreement over political structures and

constitutions

– Centralists wanted strong national government,

while federalists wanted more power to the states

Case Study: Mexico

• For several decades after independence Mexico was ruled by a series of creole generals called Caudillos

• Benito Juarez led a liberal government in the 1850s and 1860s

– La Reforma laws took tried to create a secular country of independent farmers

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Western Intervention

• Monroe Doctrine (1823) limited European

control in the Western Hemisphere

• Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo (1848) gave U.S.

control of 50 % of Mexico’s territory

• Mexico’s conservative leadership asked for

European help during La Reforma

– France appointed Maximillian von Hapsburg

Emperor of Mexico until he was executed in 1867

Economic Boom

• Latin America exported a significant amount of resources to Europe and the US

– Guano, copper, and coffee

• Britain offered diplomatic recognition for freedom of trade

• New nations were dependent on foreign trade

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Brazil

• Portuguese royals relocated to Brazil during

Napoleon’s reign

• Pedro I declared Brazilian independence in 1822

– Served as constitutional emperor

• Plantation system intensified in Brazil as coffee production increased

– Slavery outlawed in 1888

• Italian immigration to South America increased along with demand for labor

Economic Reforms