Transcript Review

Review
What area did the United States of America claim as a sphere of influence?
All of Latin America
What areas does this include?
Anything south of the USA in the
Western Hemisphere: Mexico, Central and
South America
What is a sphere of influence?
An area of exclusive trading rights
Imperialism in Latin America
Remember
Latin America had won independence from Spain, France and other
European nations throughout the 1700s and 1800s
Leaders like Bolivar, L’ouverture and Hidalgo led their people to
independence
Even though they were independent there was little change in society
in Latin America, with the encomienda system roughly still in place.
Post Revolution Latin America
Though Simon Bolivar tried to create a
united Latin America, such as Gran
Columbia, it failed due to regionalism and
disputes among leaders.
Throughout the late 1800s and 1900s
nearly 20 nations will appear in Latin
America
Colonial Legacy
The Europeans had ruled so completely the Latin Americans
had severe obstacles:
-No experience with self rule
-Racial system remained but the Creoles
were now on top
-Economy based on large haciendas;
large plantations run like a
Feudal manor
-
Caudillos
The governments were weak and lacked support.
Instead local strongmen created armies to
overthrow government. They would then assume
the role of dictator and harshly deal with
opponents.
Despite independence, power remained in the
hands of a privileged few.
Economic Legacy
The Europeans had
instituted strict mercantilist
policies in the American
Colonies. The colonists had
to send raw materials to
Europe and buy the
manufactured goods sent
back.
They were not allowed to
trade with other countries
OR create their own
industry
Economies of Dependence
Economies of dependence occur when less
developed nations export raw materials and
commodities to industrial nations, then import
manufactured goods, capital and technical knowhow.
Example:
American Colonies owned by the British
Economies of Dependence
After independence the Latin Americans opened up to foreign
traders such as America and Britain. However, the trade terms
were completely controlled by the foreigners; they set the
prices and rules.
However, because the Latin Americans had no industry and
lacked other trading arrangements, they had to accept the
terms.
Given this set up, do you believe the Latin American’s
economies prospered? Why or why not?
Slow Economic Growth
The economy grew VERY slowly.
The economy was slow growing for 2 reasons:
-Foreign exploitation
-The social elite became very wealthy but the $$
didn’t “trickle down” to the lower classes.
-with no money, there is no demand
Despite slow economic growth for the Latin Americans, the
foreign investors did build infrastructure (roads, bridges,
etc) to transport raw materials and finished goods.
Mexican War 1845
Many Mexicans were unhappy with the Mexican
government and wanted to break away. In Northeast
Mexico, American settlers and Mexican reformists
declared independence from Mexico.
In 1845 the United States agreed to annex Texas (take
it into the states)
The Mexicans viewed this as an act of war, and the
Mexican War began.
American won and Mexico had to relinquish (give up)
its Northern territories, nearly 50% of its total land.
La Reforma
Era of reform led by Benito Juarez:
-Military stripped of political power
-Church forced to sell lands to peasants
-Mestizos enter political life
-Separate Church and State
-United Mexico under one government
Order and Progress
When Juarez dies, Porfirio Diaz assumes control of the
government and names himself emperor.
He uses the slogan “order and Peach” to gain support.
In office he strengthens the military, police and central
government
Improved economic situation by building railroads,
improving foreign trade, and increasing industry
All opposition is crushed
Peonage
Despite reforms made by Juarez and Diaz, the
economic situation of the mestizos and mulattoes
remained dismal.
The system of peonage was introduced to keep
the people in slave like conditions:
-a worker borrowed money from future
wages, then had to work off
the debt
-paid low wages
-high cost of living
-never taught how to read and write
** the people could not escape the system**
Colossus of the North
In 1820 the Spanish wanted to recolonize parts of Latin America. The British
opposed this because they didn’t want to lose their trading partner. Britain
asked America to join them in declaring “no more colonization in Latin
America”.
Instead, president James Monroe issues the Monroe Doctrine:
“The American continents are henceforth not to
be considered as subjects for future colonization by
any European powers.”
Monroe claimed it was to keep Latin America safe and free from
European interference.
Basically the US said they
would take care of the
Western Hemisphere, and the
European powers needed to
stay out. Wanted to
guarantee freedom for all of
the Western hemisphere
Roosevelt Corollary
Teddy Roosevelt added to the Monroe Doctrine,
claiming the US would be the international
police power of the Western Hemisphere.
Allowed for American intervention in the
Dominican Republic, Cuba, Haiti, Mexico,
Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and many more
The Americans would intervene in these
countries to safe guard the investments of
American businesses in Latin America.
Panama Canal opened 1914
The US wanted a canal to connect the Atlantic and
Pacific oceans to speed up trade and military
movements.
The ideal location was in Panama. However,
Panama was controlled by Columbia, who refused
to sell the land to the US.
When Panama declared independence the US
supported them financially and militarily. When
Panama won they leased the land for the canal to
the US.
Why is Panama the ideal
location?
Impact of Imperialism
Imperialism caused drastic changes across the
world.
Economic changes include
-Emergence of Global economy
-Money economy
-Modernization
-Dependency
Global Economy
Western industrialized nations send machine made goods, technology and investment
capital around the world.
The world mostly shifts from local traditional economies  world wide trade markets
Before
After
People grow their own food
Food can be transported
around the world
Goods are produced by hand
Goods are machine made,
cheaper and better quality
Money Economy
The bartering system is replaced with the money system. Goods
and services must be paid in money currency, not trades.
To earn money workers had to work long hours for little pay. In
many cases women were sent to work for money, while the men
stayed home to farm.
Are we a money economy or barter
economy? What is the difference?
Dependency
Mass produced goods flooded into foreign markets, making
traditional self-sufficient communities dependent on the industrial
powers. The industrial powers bought raw materials and sold
goods.
Many colonists choose or are forced to grow cash crops leading to
famines in traditional societies.
Modernization
Many of the things we take for granted
occurred during the new Imperialist age:
-Modern banking system
-New technologies and machines
-Communication systems
-Transportation systems
Cultural Impacts
-Europeans convinced of their superiority and duty to civilize the world:
“The more of the world we inhabit the better it is for
the human race… If there be a God, I think what he
would like me to do is to paint as much of the map
of Africa British red as possible.”
-Westernized=modernized
-medicine spreads: vaccines and hygiene save millions of lives
-Christianity spreads around the world, especially into areas without strong
religious convictions.
-Most controlled nations create a blended culture: mix of western and
traditional
Impact on the West
The Columbian Exchange sped up providing more food and goods for people
around the world
Political tensions arise as western powers compete over foreign areas
Nationalism causes tensions in nations put together by the Europeans (Africa)
The building tensions and rise of nationalism will lead to WWI