Independence In Early 19th Century Leaders example essay topic

IMPERIALISM IN LATIN AMERICA Wars for Independence most gained independence in early 19th century leaders' political culture shaped by Enlightenment but, colonial heritage did not include participatory govt. class and regional interests divided nations wealth was unevenly distributed rise of industrial capitalism placed L A in a dependent economic position Old and New Problems shared Enlightenment political and economic ideals less agreement about role of Catholic Church as exclusive state religion some leaders had egalitarian beliefs slavery abolished in former Spanish colonies by 1854 better treatment of Indians and Mestizos blocked by elite's fears of losing tax revenue and control property and literacy qualifications limited voting women remained subordinate to men mass of the people were outside of the political processCaudillos, Politics, and the Church armies loyal to their leaders led to rise of caudillo's, men who controlled local areas caudillo's intervened in national politics to make and unmake goats usually disregarded representative forms and rule of law differences about forms of republican govt centralist's vs. federalists liberals stressed individual rights, opposed corporate structure of colonial society, and favored federalist govt conservatives favored centralized state and wished to maintain a society where corporate groups ruled social action role of Church liberals-limit its civil role conservatives-keep its civil role political parties led by landowners and urban middle class argued about liberal or conservative ideas, but shared basic class loyalties rest of population not concerned with political ideologies result was enduring political instability, with rapid turnovers of rulers and constitutions only Chile and Brazil had general stability alliance of Church, landowners, army and peasantry emerged to oppose change in mid 19th century latter 19th century the liberals returned to power Economies and World Markets, 1820-1870 Britain and U S supported L A independence price was free-trade imperialism Britain replaced Spain as dominant economic force in a type of neocolonial commercial system, became major consumer of L A products and sold its manufactured goods to the new nations this benefited port cities and landowners, but damaged regional industries the resulting dependency on foreign markets reinforced the old order which made land the basis of wealth and prestige Late 19th Century Economic Resurgence economy expanded rapidly after 1850 and population doubled new demands for L A products foreign capitalists and bankers joined liberals, landowners, and merchants to tie L A to the capitalist expansion of the Western economy new leaders' distrust of the masses prevented the success of many efforts economic growth often occurred at expense of peasantry - landowners and goats expropriated land and developed forms of tenancy, peonage, and disguised servitude women remained in subordinate roles, but new opportunities opened for them in teaching, by end of century educated women actively demanded new rights exports fueled expansion, but risky since market prices were dependent on outside conditions Germany and U S became major participants key industries were placed under foreign control, which influenced the internal and external policies of goats. Conclusion despite all the economic, social, and political changes occurring after independence L A remained remarkably unchanged elite held on to control of economic resources urban sector was weak and often accommodated the elite most of population worked the land without hope of improvement.