ECONOMIC IMPERIALISM IN LATIN AMERICA SEC. 4 BELL WORK #4 Calvin can you help me and lena marie asked or do you have to much to carry

Latin America Latin American nations found their economies increasingly dependent on those of more developed countries. Britain, and later the U.S., invested heavily in Latin America. Both then intervened to protect their interests there.

Problems Facing the New Nations Simon Bolivar had hoped to create strong ties among the nations of Latin America. But feuds among leaders, geographic barriers, and local nationalism shattered that dream. In the end, 20 separated nations emerged. These new nations wrote constitutions modeled on that of the United States.

New Constitutions The New Constitutions guaranteed equality before the law, but deep rooted inequalities remained. Voting rights were limited and Racial prejudice was widespread, and land remained in the hands of few. With few roads and no tradition of unity, the new nations were weakened by Regionalism, loyalty to a local area. Local strongmen, called caudillos, assembled private armies to resist the central government. As in Europe, the ruling elite in Latin America was divided between conservatives and liberals. Conservatives defended the old social order. Liberals backed laissez-faire economics, religious toleration, and freedom of the press.

The Economics of Dependence Under colonial rule, mercantilist policies made Latin America economically dependent on Spain and Portugal. Britain and the U.S. rushed into the new markets, replacing Spain as the chief trading partner Latin America. But Latin America remained as economically dependent as before. Economic dependence occurs when less developed nations export raw materials and commodities to industrial nations and import manufactured goods, capital, and technological know how. The relationship is unequal because the more developed nation controls prices and the terms of trade.

Foreign Influence In the 1800s, foreign goods flooded into Latin America. Foreign investment, which could yield enormous profits, was often accompanied by interference. British, American, or other investors might pressure their own governments to take action if political events or reform movements in a Latin American country seemed to threaten their interests.

Economic Growth After 1850, Latin America developed mining and agriculture. Chile exported copper and nitrates, while Argentina expanded livestock and wheat. Brazil added coffee and rubber to its traditional exports crop of sugar. Venezuela and medico were developing important oil industries. Thanks to trade, investment, technology, and migration, Latin American nations moved into the world economy. Yet development was limited. Local industries grew slowly , impart because of the social structure.

Mexico's Struggle for Stability Santa Anna- Between 1833 and 1855, and ambitious and cunning caudillo , Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, gained and lost power many times. At first, he posed as a liberal reformer. Soon , however he reversed his stand and crushed efforts at reform. In 1835, American settlers and some Mexicans in Texas revolted and the next year set up an independent republic. In 1845, the U.S. annexed Texas. Mexicans were outraged by this act, which they saw as a declaration of war. In Mexico City, young military cadets fought to the death rather than surrender. Despite the bravery of these “boys heroes,” Mexico lost the Mexican War. In the treaty ending the war, Mexico lost almost half its territory.

La Reforma In 1855, Benito Juarez and other liberals seized power opening La Reforma, and era of reform. He and his fellow reformers revised the Mexican constitution to strip the military of power and end the special privileges of the Church. Conservatives resisted la Reforma, unleashing a civil war. In 1861, Juarez was elected president. In 1863, napoleon II sent troops to Mexico and set up Austrian archduke Maximilian as Mexican emperor. He did, however, help unite México, bring mestizos into political life, and separate church and state.

The Monroe Doctrine In the 1820s Spain plotted to recover its American colonies. President James Monroe, however, wanted to avoid any “entangling alliance” with Britain Acting alone, in 1823 he issued the Monroe doctrine. The American continents, it declared, “are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by and European powers.

Intervention 1904, the U.S. issued the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine. Under this policy the U.S. claimed ‘international police power” in the We3stern Hemisphere. When the Dominican Republic failed to pay its foreign debts, the U.S. sent in troops. It collected customs duties, paid off the debts, and remained there for years.