A Concise History of Latin America - Essay Example

Latin America In the 16th century, Portuguese and Spanish colonialists settled in South and Central America. The French,English, and the Dutch who claimed the Northern part of America followed them (Chasteen 67). A pattern was established that pitted the two southern Europe countries against each other in the South of America while the other three struggled to dominate the North. This struggle for control by the five countries led to the eventual division of the continent into two parts North and Latin America (Bethell 56). The term Latin America was first used during the 19th century as a way of reaching a compromise. The Latin America region consisted of all the countries that were colonized by the Spanish administrators and authorities; the only exception of these large parts is Brazil because it was colonized by Portugal. The term came into force when almost all the regions that lie south of North America started using Spanish or Portuguese as their official languages. The settlement of Spanish administrators was preceded by the voyages of Columbus who discovered the new land as part exploration and conquest. His made the Spanish monarch at the time to struggle in an effort to seize its newfound opportunities. By 1500, the Spanish had explored the entire region that spans the Caribbean shore. After the 14th century, the speed of the Spanish conquest, expansion and consolidation was fast considering the vastness of the region. By the year 1516 all, the islands of the Caribbean were under Spanish administration, therefore, acting as the launchpad for further expansion in the region (Rosenthal 78). Fast-forwarding to the 19th century, Latin American democracies, flourished, economies grew, and republics were established. This paper focuses on the political, social and economic transformations that were characterized in Latin America during the 19th century. The paper seeks to highlight the formation of republics that ended imperial rule of monarchies across the region (Holloway 89). Political Transformations The early years of the 19th century witnessed a period of radical transformations on the Spanish dominated territory of Latin America. Latin America was characterized by monarchies that collapsed as republics started being formed. The regimes that were in power became disregarded or dismembered as colonial Latin America spilt into numerous parts. This split was followed by revolutions that established new politics and [political territories. These events over the period signified the long start of the history of the formation of new political enclaves, reconstruction of political regimes, and the redefinition of sovereignties. These attempts to redefine political and sovereign entities were head started in different directions that led to the subsequent failure of the nation building attempts. Because of the lack of linearity in the attempts of nation building, the regions in Latin America had to unite in order to consolidate the formation of nation-states. The transformation history of Latin America is complex because of the vast region and the pathways adopted by individual countries. This fact notwithstanding, the political entities that were formed after independence from Spain adopted the republican form of governance that was based on the popular principle of sovereignty. This period was quite defining for Spanish America because; with the exception of the United States, most of the Western countries endorsed the monarchial form of governance. The monarchial system was tried in Mexico and some other areas, but it was dropped in the end. The republic system of government adopted in Latin America provided a radical alternative that changed the principles of legitimizing political power leading to the creation, and establishing of new political entities and regimes (Sabato 125). Long contradictory and contested processes characterized the constitution of the new polities in Latin America after the cutting off the colonial bond. During these times, political scenarios changed through these decades as different groups from different regions claimed power and sovereignty leading to redefining and changing of boundaries and jurisdiction. Throughout this process, the traditional colonial ways faced challenges by the new ways, introduced by Spanish liberalism and American democracy, and eventually discarded. Economic Transformation After the defeat of Napoleon, Britain replaced Spain as the dominant economic power in the period’s economic system this changed the order of the economy in Latin America because Britain became the principal importer of Latin America products, and it sold most of its manufactured goods to the nations. The free entry and exit of goods damaged the regions internal industries because of the competition. The Latin economy stagnated in the mid-19th century because of the return of the older order that primed land as the basis of prestige and wealth. The mining industry was the most affected because of the underdevelopment of transportation infrastructure, lack of investment capital, and the independence wars (Ferranti 150). This situation changed in the second half of the 19th century because of the return of liberals to power, and the expansion of the European market. The liberals created policies that had a basis on the positivism of Auguste Comte, which emphasized on a scientific approach to social issues and problems. This shift in policy formation was also influenced by the nature of the age of imperialism and the industrial revolution. The economy of Latin America expanded rapidly leading to a double increase in population. The system-derived inspiration from Western capitalism, but the leader’s distrust of mass population prevented any meaningful success stories. Thus, economic growth occurred at the expense of peasants because the governments and landlords developed forms of tenancy and disguised servitude. Social Transformation At the beginning of colonization, the social relationship that existed in Latin America was that of a master to slave relationship. This is because the dominating Spaniards considered the natives inferior. A case system was developed as Spanish domination expanded, and race, religion or occupation became the criteria used to determine an individual’s social status. At the top, of the structure were the Peninsulares who were Spaniards born in Spain followed by the creoles, the mullatoes and lastly the African slaves and natives. During the 19th century, the Latin American territories experienced a new form of sociability due to the influence of the enlightened class (Ferranti 180). This influence introduced new forms of communication that ensured freedom, equality, and freedom of reason to the masses. The development of these new social stratifications became fertile ground for debate and subsequent revolutions witnessed in the region. The adoption of a different method of representation was the hallmark in social transformation because it offered each person a chance to exert his public opinion (Camila). Works Cited Bethell, Leslie. The Cambridge History of Latin America. London: Cambridge University Press, 1995. Print. Camila. Dir. Maria Luisa Bemberg. Perf. O'GormanSusu Pecoraro. 1984. Film Chasteen, John Charles. Born in Blood and Fire: A Concise History of Latin America. New York: W. W. Norton & Company Limited, 2011. Print. Ferranti, David M. De. Inequality in Latin America: breaking with history? New York: World Bank Publications, 2004. Print. Holloway, Thomas H. A Companion to Latin American History. New York: John Wiley and Sons, 2010. Print. Rosenthal, David H. The Slum. New York: Oxford University Press, 2000. Print. Sabato, Hilda. "On Political Citizenship in Nineteenth-Century." The American Historical Review (2001): 2-14. Print. Lecture’s Notes. Online. Read More