Colonialism and Independence in Latin American Development - Article Example

Colonialism and Independence in Latin American Development The Latin America has a rich history in view of the various assortments of periods it passed through to the present day character of the land. Through its establishment, Latin America has a chronology of experiences in wars dictators, famines, economic booms, foreign interventions among a varied collection of calamities. Similarly, like many other regions, the factor of colonization and influence of the western cultures on the region remain evident in the establishment of the current characteristics and cultures of the people. The issue of independence as highlighted in the course of development remains key in the post-colonial era of the regions colonized. Independence of the once colony regions dictates the process in which the country will eventually develop (Brown & Paquette, 2013, p 19). In some extends, independence actively pushes the region towards positive development whereas in other scenarios, it retards the development, plunging the region into a world of chaos. This study leads towards understanding the impacts of colonization and influence of independent in postcolonial Latin America. The origin of the term Latin America is itself an illustration of the influence of colonialism in the southerner region of America. The region got the name from the establishment that its colonizing powers were the Spanish and Portuguese speaking countries. The region encompasses present day countries such as the islands of Suriname, Jamaica, Haiti and Guyana, as well as, Argentina, Mexico, Peru, Ecuador, Paraguay and southern part of the United States (Andrien, 2002, p 67). Before the arrival of these influential powers from Europe, the region in the 15th and early 16th centuries consisted of virtually indigenous people. Additionally, it is notable that the region had vastly advanced civilizations, although not to the sophistication level as was the European countries at the time. Some of the notable cultures regarded as advanced include the Aztec, Inca and Maya cultures, and origins of the people. However, through the processes of arrival of the foreigners who later colonized the region, it underwent several changes, experiences, and consequences, emerging as the Latin America region (Galeano & Belfrage, 1998, p 87). The impacts and influences of the colonial period on the region are vast. Additionally, the year also formulated the basis for the establishment of the independence wars and eventual independence of the region. During the colonial period, the immigration activity within the region consisted of mainly the Spanish and Portuguese who came from Europe. Moreover, there were other minor groups from France and the Netherlands, as well as, slaves brought from Africa. Most of the people brought as slaves worked in the plantations in the region. The colonial era entailed the processes of imposed governance on the natives within the region by the foreigners. In discovering the impacts thereof of the colonization, it is essential to acknowledge that they hail from both positive and negative aspects. From the impacts on evidence from the observable aspects, among the notable factors are the population impacts on the natives as well as foreigners. Estimates indicate that, the population within the Mexican Valleys, before the arrival of the Spanish in the region, was approximately up to 19 million people. However, after the arrival of the Spanish and the eventual colonization process, spanning to the time of the independence wars in Latin America, the population decreased to about 2 million natives. Notably, most of the regions suffered severe loss of the native populations, including the total wipe out of the people and eventual occupation by the settlers (Galeano, 1997, p 42). The population wipe out suffered in the region originated from the toll of the bloody conquests that took many of the populations. Additionally, the factors of diseases such as smallpox among others also affected the populations accordingly during the colonial period (Mabry, 2002, p 134). The natives did not have advanced mechanisms against diseases; hence, with the advent of the colonization and the immigrations as they increased, new diseases descended upon the region of Latin America. This eventually resulted in the death of many of the natives as compared to the colonizers who had advanced defense mechanisms against the epidemics. The bloody conquest wars, in addition to the independence wars between the natives and the colonizing powers resulted in the death of many people, contributing accordingly to the loss of lives of many people. Thus, the effect of native population wipeout is the most notable impact left by the colonizers as they engaged their interests in the region of Latin America. Another negative aspect associated with the colonization process of the Latin America region is the factor of culture. The immigration processes during the era brought with them several cultures from the vast composition of immigrants that arrived at the region (Galeano, 1997, p 21). These people sought to establish their effect in the region; hence, the impact of culture influence on the natives of the region. Notably, the first establishment of the Spanish power after taking control of the region was to forbid the culture of the native people. They forbid the natives from practicing their culture and beliefs, and enforced their traditions and cultures on the natives (Chiaramonte, 2010, p 87). Those who rebelled met significant and brutal force, in which they suffered torture and some loss of their lives. Thus, this factor meant that the forbidding of the cultures of the natives, for their own survival, they had to adopt the cultures of the colonizers. The effect of culture change as imposed on the region remains the long-term leading effect of colonization in the region. For instance, in the Spanish invasion of the Americas, the conquest left the imposition of their culture on the region, including effects of language change, as well as, effect on the civilizations such as the Aztec and Maya cultures. Thus, these effects on the region constitute a vast effect and long lasting impacts of the colonization period in the Latin America region. The impact on the native civilizations also affected the region. Through the imposition of the procedures of rule from the Spanish and Portuguese colonizers, the impact includes the loss of civilizations such as the Aztec, Incas and the Mayas. These are significant and notable aspects of governance within the native people of the region (Stein & Stein, 2007, p 26). Therefore, the colonization process of the region led to adoption of new modes of governance as imposed by the colonizing powers. Another notable factor of influence brought through the processes of colonization in the region includes the introduction of practice of slavery. The natives of Latin America did not practice slavery until the invasion by the Spanish powers that brought African slaves into the area. Additionally, due to the importation of Africans to work as slaves in the plantations, this changed the population composition of the region, resulting in the introduction of the black race in the region. The brutal treatment also forced some of the natives to work as slaves, affecting the region accordingly. Thus, from these establishments, it is notable that colonization in the region had significantly notable negative impacts. Last is the impact of creation of the various social stratifications as exists in the region. The Latin America today consists of the European whites, who constitute the elite class, additionally, there are the creoles that consist of locally born whites and who have a lower social standing. Then there are the Blacks, Native American, and Matzos who constitute the bulk of the lower classes. These establishments brought in the basis for discrimination along the lines of race and social status in wealth (Nagy & Zabus, 2010, p 145). These are negative divisions on the region. The Latin America region has such vast divisions along the various social stratifications and ethnic groups all originating in the colonial period influences. Thus, such vast negative influences still affect the region to date. In the positive aspect of the processes of colonization in the Latin Americas development, include that it facilitated for the eventual future establishment of the region. The colonial powers brought with them various advanced tools and materials for war, medicine, and work. Notably, these factors facilitated for the establishment of the region in the growth development as they eliminated the traditional means, which were ineffective. The success of the region emanates from the influence of the developments gathered during the colonization period. The establishment of the colonial powers in the plantations as they introduced mechanization allowed the natives, after gaining their independence to engage accordingly to develop the region (Stein & Stein, 2007, p 78). Additionally, the colonizers brought tools such as guns and gunpowder among other weaponry for fighting. From gathering these materials, the region strengthened its defense systems. Moreover, as the natives leaned the art of practicing modern medicine, they established their health systems, improving the health of the region. Another significant impact of colonization is the establishments of independent state thereafter the colonization. The colonizers brought the aspect of divisions and establishment of the independent states (Bulmer, Coatsworth & Cortés, 2006, p 67). The creation of the modern nation states originates from the colonial period, in which the Latin America colonizers established the divisions within the region. These states contribute accordingly to the development of the region as smaller organized states have better skills and leadership for the success of the states. Moreover, another notable impact of colonization is the fusion of the various cultures (Galeano, 1997, p 165). The fusion of colonial powers with the natives affects the region accordingly through the production of modern Latin American cultures. Thus, in essence, colonization contributed accordingly to the establishment of the modern culture celebrated in the region. The establishments of new cultures replacing the history of the natives constitutes establishment of the rich history of the region. Moreover, another notable impact of the colonization in the Latin America region is the economic aspects of the region. To the negative perspective, the colonizers confiscated the lands of the natives for their use. However, notably, after the confiscation, they used the lands accordingly to further productivity of the region. Thus, as colonizers, they brought agricultural progress in the region. Another factor of economic progress for the region is the exploitation of the resources of the region. The colonizers brought in positive improvements in the tools of exploring the resources of the region, influencing the region’s growth positively. Further, the factors of colonization improved the factors of trade. The colonization powers opened the Latin America region to the external world, conferring the region as a trading destination for the other powers (Chomsky & Dieterich, 2010, p 56). This factor established the Latin American region for trading, a development which it still enjoys to date. The independence wars in the Latin America region led to various impacts on the region. The notable aspects of the process of independence include the removal of the people from their regions, mines flooded and abandoned, roads, and other transport facilities neglected. The region as they fought for independence, they focused and envisioned development and justice for the natives. Thus, after the wars, the actors of development became a matter of notable concerns for the region (Schneider, 2010, p 34). The new states faced various challenges as they sought to establish their development and progress towards the achievements they intended. The independence of Latin America came too abruptly after the periods of the independence wars. Between 1808 and 1826, virtually all the colonies of the Spanish powers in the region had their independence apart from Cuba and Puerto Rico. The rapid and dramatic aspect of independence resulted in occurrence of combination of long-building tensions and other external factors. The reorganization brought by the colonial powers left significantly high instability in the region and the relations among the native subjects. Thus, the post independence development of the region faced significant turbulent moments. Aspects of political instability ensued in most of the states. The attempts by Simon Bolivar, the leader of the liberation movement of the Latin America attempted to establish the confederation government (Dawson, 2011, p 113). However, the aftermath that ensued left the region fragmented, creating struggles for development among themselves. The Latin America states were incapable of self-governing and instituting constitution that would factor development to success. Instead, the states faced aspects of political instability, allowing for the rise and establishment of military leaders in Latin American states. The elites suffered under the freed nations’ military leadership. Oppression ensued in the region, preventing the participation of the various populations in the development of the region. In attempt to consolidate the lands lost, the postcolonial government, after independence constituted further crisis for the region. Additionally, the inexperience of the people to lead the region towards development, lack of established social amenities among others, the region suffered years of retarded growth (Galeano & Belfrage, 2010, p 90). Thus, within the first years after the independence of the Latin America regions, the country suffered stagnant growth. Despite the conquering, the natives suffered divisions; the leaders took advantage of the needs of social, political, and military stability in the regions exploit the development. The disgruntled masses remained to suffer further. To date, the factors of establishment and development of the region, despite the region gaining independence that early, remain underdeveloped. Thus, in essence, the independence of the region, although it eliminated the factors of colonization, the new governments contributed to further suffering and under development of the region. Independence only alleviated the experiences of colonialism in the region to a lesser extent. It overcame the development challenges only to a limited extent. Today, the region suffers from factors of political instability, social amenities underdevelopment, as well as, neo-colonialism effects. The independence of the region re-introduced aspects of modern colonization and oppression by the leaders taking over government. Social establishment, although at a slow rate, are taking root, growing slowly towards achieving the expectations foreseen during the independence wars. Bibliography Andrien, K. J. 2002, The human tradition in colonial Latin America. Wilmington, Del, SR Books. Bulmer-Thomas, V., Coatsworth, J. H., & Cortés Conde, R. 2006,The colonial era and the short nineteenth century. Cambridge [u.a.], Cambridge Univ. Press. Brown, M., & Paquette, G. B. 2013, Connections after colonialism: Europe and Latin America in the 1820s. Tuscaloosa, University of Alabama Press. Chiaramonte, J. C. 2010,. Nation and state in Latin America: political language during independence. 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