Imperialism in India & Latin America Ch. 21, Sections 3 & 4

British Rule in India British hired Indian soldiers called sepoys to protect the British East India Company’s interests in India

Sepoys revolt! Rumor that rifle cartridges were greased with cow and pig fat! Indian troops 230,000 to British 45,000 British publically humiliated sepoys, put them in prison

Benefits of British Rule Brought order & stability Honest, efficient government New school system created to train elite Indian children to serve in goverment & army Railroads, telegraph service & postal service started

Negative Outweighs Positive Financial hardship to millions British imports destroyed local industry Zamindars took advantage of peasants Food supplies shrunk 30 million died of starvation Degrading to all Indians – best jobs & housing goes to British British arrogance hurts Indian pride

Spark of Nationalism British rule creates new interest in Indian culture & history, sense of PRIDE Publishing house, newspapers Tagore – India’s most famous author

Latin American Revolts American and French Revolutions stirred up feelings of mistrust and wanting for independence Social class structure played a big role in how the revolutions occurred.

Latin Social Classes Peninsulares: Spanish & Portugese officials living temporarily in Latin America for political & economic gain; held all the important positions. Creoles: controlled land & business; hated peninsulares; descendants of Europeans living permanently in Latin America Mestizos: largest group; servants/laborers; of mixed Native American & European descent

The First Revolts 1804: 100,000+ slaves revolted against French to take control of Hispaniola (now Haiti) 1810: Hidalgo led natives & mestizos in Mexico to fight for independence from Spain, unsuccessful at first Eventually, all social classes joined in to fight against Spain. Mexico gained independence in 1821

Key People in Revolution San Martin & Bolivar were both creole elites “Liberators of South America” Bolivar led northern part of S. America San Martin led south portions of S. America

Threats to Independence Concert of Europe wanted to send troops to regain Spanish control The British didn’t want to jeopardize trade relationships US & British Navy agreed to defend any European action in South America

Monroe Doctrine US didn’t trust the British, issued the Monroe Doctrine in 1823 Guaranteed the independence of new Latin American nations Strongly warned against European intervention

More trouble with independence… Wars resulted in huge loss of people, property, & livestock. Border wars among new nations Poor roads, poor communication made national unity difficult Civil war erupted when caudillos died or lost power Needed financial help from Western nations

Caudillos Strong leaders who took power in new governments Some innovative, some destructive Ruled mostly by military force Antionio Lopez Santa Anna called himself “Napoleon of the West”

Revolt against Santa Anna Santa Anna misused state funds, halted reforms President for eleven 2-year terms “Any progress in Mexico during this era had nothing to do with him” American settlers in Texas revolted and Texas gained its independence in Texas became a US state in 1845.

Changes in Mexico Benito Juarez – took over after Santa Anna, no millitary experience Mexican national hero, served 5 terms as president Redistributed land to poor, religious toleration, educational system

$ Cash Crops $ Crops grown to sell rather than personal use Sometimes entire nation’s economy depended on one crop Latin America still relied on Western countries for economic health

Domination by Landed Elites Estates were so large, couldn’t be farmed efficiently One family might own as many at 15 million acres! Land determined wealth, social prestige & political power Landowners benefitted, other were in poverty

We want to be like you… Many new governments wrote constitutions similar to US & European countries Careful to limit voting rights

US intervenes in Latin America Cuba became a protectorate as result of Spanish/American war Puerto Rico was annexed to US Deal with Panama for 10 mile strip to build canal.

Mexican Revolution Began as an uprising again dictator Porfirio Diaz Madero tried to force him from power, favored democracy – but to slow to make changes Panco Villa & Emiliano Zapata were prominent revolutionary generals “Land & Liberty

Reform – Not Revolution After new Constitution in 1917, government led by president Increased industrialization & exports Growth in middle sectors Saw US as a model More gained right to vote