Impact of independence on the economies & societies of the Americas

SOCIAL: United states of America

Native Americas: Viewed as savages Not privy to basic human rights and not protected by laws of newly formed United States During Revolutionary War, many tribes fought for Britain, others attempted to remain neutral After war, went from being controlled by Britain to being controlled by the United States Americans assumed Indian land was now their own Those tribes that fought with the British were now considered the losers of the war, so they no longer had rights to control the land west of the Proclamation Line

Native Americans: Long process began to remove Native Americans off their land; some attempted to fight back, but in the end all were either kicked off their land or killed Indian removal was “necessary” for the opening of vast lands to agriculture, commerce, markets, money, and development of a modern economy

African Americans: Torn between fighting for the British or the Colonists Issue of where blacks lived depended on who they fought for North: allowed blacks to be free and many chose to fight for the independence movement South: reluctant to arm blacks, many fled to the North in hopes of gaining freedom, often times returned back and sold back into slavery British used the division between North and South views on slavery to their advantage; promised to free any African Americans who helped fight and protect the Empire After the Revolutionary War, the North freed slaves and the South continued to heavily rely on slavery for an agricultural and labor-intensive economy Created a division the new country and tension among states would remain a domestic issue for many years to come

SOCIAL: Spanish America

Differences between Spanish America and United States: Differed due to the nature of their independence movements Had to rely on the mobilization of non-whites to create an army that was capable of defeating the royalist forces At the end of the wars, the non-whites demanded key liberties including political rights and social status Social hierarchy system was banished, although an elite group based on race still existed

Creoles: Transfer of power from the Peninsulares to the Creoles Successful gaining control of political and social life, where they once had been excluded Creoles tended to be conservative and worked with higher clergy, landowners, and army to keep control over all other peoples Made all bureaucratic positions available to themselves and helped create an easier way for their sons to receive an education (European education was still viewed as extremely important to social standing) Overall, the upper class of Latin American countries looked very similar to that of the American colonies, with a few darker faces in the elite group

Indigenous People: Often faced severe discrimination and often responded with revolts against governments in power which were suppressed quickly Most indigenous people continued to farm communal lands that belonged to their villages, unaffected by outsiders Cared little for politics; wanted to live separate and continue their own customs, speak their own languages and mind their own business Preferred to avoid wage labor and wanted to grow their own food

Slavery in Spanish America: After the independence movements, slavery remained in Spanish America (even after Bolivar outlawed it) Due to reliance on natural resources, slavery was still needed in continuing an economic system Justified the social system that kept Creoles in power Certain areas did not find slavery important and abolished slavery shortly after independence (Mexico, Central America, and Chile) Other areas would continue slavery into the 1840s and 1850s (Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Argentina, & Ecuador)

Economic: United States of America

United States: Varied according to state economic systems North—created an industrialization base South- largely agricultural Link between economic impact and social classes

United States: DEBT: TRADE: War was very costly and left the government indebted $81 million in debt 12 million foreign 44 million domestic 25 million state governments Most debt owed to soldiers and foreign suppliers New government’s response was to print Continentals (new nation’s currency) Led to inflation which made the currency almost worthless New nation lost its primary trading partner Led to a drastic decline in exports of rice, indigo, and tobacco Prices of beef and sugar doubled

UNITED STATES: BENEFITS: RESULTS: End of mercantilism and British restrictions on trade Revenue from trade helped develop US commerce France replaced Britain as main trading partner Gained trade with Spanish America which led to influence in the region Industrial Revolution fueled by abundant natural resources led to the establishment of a larger manufacturing base End of Proclamation Line meant settlers could move further west in search of better land to farm Inflation and depression but tremendous potential for growth

ECONOMIC: SPANISH AMERICA

SPANISH AMERICA: Devastating effects on the economic resources of the region Mining industry destroyed (Both sides destroyed mines during the war to keep other side away) Livestock depleted by hungry armies Few incentives to build national economies Dependent on cheap labor Reliant on export of raw materials No industry, little internal demand Developed partnership that led to foreign investors having control of major resources and consequently, the economy