Latin America and the Industrial Revolution Outside of Europe and English North America, only Japan underwent significant industrialization in the 19th century In other places, only modest industrial experiments and organization took place Societies were not transformed as in Europe However, impact of European and North American industrialization was still felt

Post Independence Latin America Independence wars took a long time to finish and were very destructive in many ways Spanish America was divided into 18 separate countries International and internal war disrupted and hindered development of even the most simple in many of these countries Examples: Mexico lost half its territory to the US in the War of the Northern Aggression or The Mexican War. Paraguay lost over ½ its territory to Argentina and Brazil between 1865 and 1870.

Post Independence Latin America Political life in this region was highly unstable Conservatives tried to maintain society and culture as it had been for the most part under the Spanish Liberals attacked the church, sought some reforms in society, and preferred a looser government structure in theory than conservatives Often, military strongmen, called caudillos, gained power through civil wars or anarchic conditions Many countries changed constitutions as often as they changed governments. Little practical self government was achieved

Changes in Latin America Little changed fundamentally for most people in these societies Slavery was abolished but in some areas not until the end of the 19th century Most legal distinctions between racial categories were abolished. But this did not change fundamental social relations Creoles (European descent) remained in control of most political and economic resources Social mobility was confined to a developing bureaucratic middle class and officers in the military

Changes in Latin America The vast majority of people had little say politically or economically in the direction of the nation Many were extremely poor and lived in conditions resembling slavery The poor were actively exploited for their labor without regard for their rights in any sense However, rebellion against these repressive regimes was uncommon and rarely successful when it occurred

Integration into the world economy As the 19th century progressed, Latin America became a source of raw materials for industrialized nations This led to integration of Latin American economies within the system controlled by the industrialized powers. Some greater stability economically and politically came with this integration: it was in the interests of industrialized nations and the elites in Latin America

A New Economic Reality Latin American countries rapidly became sources of raw materials for the industrialized world Exported food products and natural resources Imported manufactured goods, weapons, luxury goods. Produced very little manufacture for export Major area of investment for Europe and the US

19th century impacts of industrial revolution in Latin America Rapid population increase despite unsettled political conditions Rapid urbanization Sought European immigration actively: particularly successful in Argentina, Chile, Brazil, and Uruguay A few people benefited from the economic export boom: Upper class landowners did very well from this Some middle class development occurred However, more than 90% of the population was still lower class

Impacts Workers in industry (meat packing in Argentina, small manufacture in Mexico) made up a small part of the lower class. Little political or economic power Any attempts at forming unions or striking led to severe measure against the workers Most of the poor were rural and lived much as they had for hundreds of years

The Mexican Exception In some Latin American nations change did come slowly and laboriously but generally peacefully. Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay moved towards more open government and a more distributive economic system Mexico under the rule of Porfirio Diaz, did not. In 1910, a revolution against the corrupt and repressive government of Mexico began. For almost 15 years, civil war engulfed Mexico As a result, Mexico transformed into a modern state, industrialization began, and some movement toward a more open and just society was undertaken

Results Despite the large increase in exports and the inclusion of Latin America in the world wide trade network the changes that took place in Europe and North America did not occur in Latin America There were few internal markets for manufactured goods due to the poverty of most people and the lack of transportation facilities Rich landowners has little incentive to invest in manufacturing as they were making lots of money from exporting raw goods Governments supported free trade, so cheaper and higher quality foreign goods were available, than the goods that could be made in Latin America. Economic growth became dependent on growth in North America and Europe rather than on internal factors