Download Latin American Independence

1492 – 1546: European Explorations and Conquest
Exploitation of people and resources
due to ethnocentric attitudes
Conquistadors
• Aztecs – Hernán Cortés
• Incas – Francisco Pizarro
Guns, cannons, horses, diseases
Enslaved the survivors, and shipped
wealth to Europe
Treaty of Tordesillas 1493-1494
When Columbus arrived
the Americas belonged
to Portugal, but both
Spain and Portugal
claimed the land
The Pope split South
America giving Brazil to
Portugal and the rest to
Spain providing the
foundation for the
demographics of South
America
Treaty of Tordesillas
The Encomienda System
The encomienda system was created sometime between 1493–1512 by
the Crown in Castile (Spanish) who reserved the right to grant and
remove an encomienda as seen fit. The system was created to control
and regulate American Indian labor and behavior during the colonization
of the Americas and held strong links to Europe’s feudal history
The crown granted a person a specified
number of natives for whom they were
to take responsibility. The receiver of
the grant was to instruct the natives in
the Spanish language and in the
Catholic faith. In return, they could
exact tribute from the natives in the
form of labor. The system created a
rigid class structure within Latin
America.
The Encomienda System
The Encomienda Class Structure
Peninsulares – Spanish officials sent to govern colonies
• Most prestige
Criollos – People born in colonies of Spanish parents
• Barred from highest positions in government
• Educated and wealthy
• Became leaders of revolutions
Mestizos/Mulattoes – Mixed Spanish, Indian, or African parents
• Laborers and townspeople
• Few political rights
• Resentment grew because of low social status
Native Americans/African Slaves – Bottom of the social structure
• Worked on estates and mines
• Very few freedoms
Conquest of Aztec and Inca Empire
Aztec Empire – Mexico
Incan Empire – Peru
Cortés and Pizarro
Spanish Conquistador Cortés
conquered Mexico and Pizarro
conquered Peru
Destroyed these empires
Movements for Independence
Unjust conditions stemming from colonial rule
Success of American and French Revolution
Spread of democratic ideals from the European
Enlightenment
Wars fought against French emperor Napoleon
Bonaparte, which diverted Spanish and Portuguese
attention from Latin America
Latin American Independence
Toussaint L’Ouverture – In 1791 slaves on
western half of French colony Haiti revolted under
his leadership. First to gain independence in 1804.
Simón Bolívar – educated and wealthy Criollo
fought for independence and unified Latin America.
In 1819 organized and led a successful revolt
against Spanish. Later named president of Republic
of Gran Colombia (Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador,
and Panama)
Jose de San Martin – Won independence for
Argentina in 1816. Crossed the Andes and drove
the Spanish from Chile to gain independence in
1818. Help to fee parts of Peru and Argentina in
1820s.
Latin American Independence
Miguel Hidalgo and Jose Morelos
Catholic Criollo priests helped Mexico gain
their independence. Led Indians and
mestizos in a revolution in 1821. Mexico
gained its independence, but the Spanish
executed the priests
Brazil and the Caribbean
Brazil – Peaceful transition. Portugal
granted independence in 1822
Caribbean – Some today still not
independent (Martinique and Cayman
Islands)
Spanish American War – Spanish rule
ended for good in 1898 when they lost the
final colonies to the United States.
Mexican-American War 1846-1848
The Alamo was a big stand for the Americans with
Mexico still upset over losing Texas in 1836.
Mexican-American War 1846-1848
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo – California, Nevada, Utah, and parts
of Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and Wyoming
Mexican Revolution 1910-1920
Major armed struggle
that transformed
Mexican politics and
society. Peasants
revolted against the
wealthy class
Consequence – Land
reform took place and a
new political party rose
to power and stayed in
power until the 1990’s.
Cuban Revolution 1953-1959
Fidel and Raul Castro along with
their followers went after the
government led by Batista seeking
economic equality for all
They ran Batista out of the
country and set up a communist
government with ties to the Soviet
Union.
The Castro family has been a
thorn in the U.S. side for years.
Instability in Latin America
The Monroe Doctrine – 1823
United States policy regarding
domination of the American
continent that prevented European
powers from intervening in unstable
Latin American nations
It stated that further efforts by
European nations to colonize land or
interfere with states in North or
South America would be viewed as
acts of aggression, requiring United
States intervention.
The Panama Canal
Engineering marvel changed worldwide shipping
Iran - Contra
The United States 20th Century Involvement
1903: United States encourages Panama's independence from Colombia in order to
acquire rights to the Panama Canal rights
1905: Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine declares United States policeman of
the Caribbean
1912: United States Marines invade Nicaragua and occupy the country until 1933.
1914: Mexican refusal to salute United States flag provokes shelling of Veracruz by a
United States battleship and seizure of parts of the city.
1954: The CIA engineers an overthrow of democratically elected government of
Guatemala. 30 years of military dictatorship, repression, and violence follow.
1961: United States attempts to overthrow the revolutionary Cuban government at the
Bay of Pigs. Embargo until 2015.
1973: The CIA helps overthrow the democratic government of Allende in Chile in favor
of a bloody dictatorship.
1981: The Reagan Administration aided the Contras against the Sandinistas.
1983: The United States invades Grenada to overthrow a popular government.
1989: The United States invades Panama to arrest drug dealer Manual Noriega.
1990: The United States intervenes in the Nicaraguan election process
Instability in Latin American
Regional Differences – geographic barriers, border
disputes, regional rivalries for power
Caudillos – leaders backed by military emerged in Latin
American nations that favored the upper class
Economic and Social Inequality – land and wealth in
hands of few Criollos. With the overthrow of colonial rule,
Mestizos and Mulattos were still denied equal rights. Slavery
was abolished, but Indians and Blacks had few rights
Church Conservatism – powerful but conservative and
they rejected liberal changes that would reform Latin
America.
Latin America – Past to Present
Political disputes in Honduras and Ecuador threaten stability
El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Guatemala are in conflict
Haiti – the poorest country in the world deals with developing
and the environment
Mexico is dealing with violent drug wars killing thousands of
civilians
Latin America – Today
Rapid population growth threatens economic
development of Latin America – 455 million
people in 1990 – projected to double by 2025