Effects of Independence General Outcomes Inquisition ended Often ended all de jure (legal) discrimination, but not de facto- which remains an issue even today in many areas) Furthered the efforts and successes of abolitionist movements Created constitutional governments that reflected Enlightenment ideals and principles (reality was more often the creation of an aristocratic/authoritarian regime) Church lost some wealth, increase in attempts to reform and weaken its power No real land reforms – in fact, land ownership became even more concentrated in the hands of a few elites

Political Outcomes Most nations were politically unstable Caudillo rule (both creole and mestizo) - both conservative and liberal (most not truly committed to an ideology) - relatively successful ($$ helped) - manipulated law to own ends Caudillo legitimacy came from forcefully taking power, being able to support allies, maintain loyalty of army Caudillo rule started to end in late 1800s as governments became more stable - legal and political reforms - expansion of suffrage Juan Manuel de Rosas (Argentina) General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna (Mexico)

Social Ramifications Increased Power Decreased Power Creole aristocracy Replaced peninsulares and moved into powerful positions opened by Spanish departure Military Became a means by which creoles could advance, continued development of many private armies Caudillos Took power and created alliances, were a threat to the official centralized governments Decreased Power Small farmers No changes short term, but did start to improve once the economy started to diversify Local merchants Lost business due to increased foreign commercial presence Mulattos, Mestizo, Native Americans Institutional protections on Indians were removed, allowing creoles to exploit them more directly- violence and drunkenness continued to be problems and with no police force to control them it got worse (banditry, homicide common)

Beef remains a major part of the Argentine economy. Economic Effects Economic stagnation - except in those countries with marketable resources (Argentina – hides and beef) Continued economic regionalism - Latin American countries didn’t coordinate their economic development or integrate markets Increased opportunity for foreign investment - This benefitted the British. There was suppressed local development due to a flood of cheaper foreign goods Increased corruption - political control gave the new rulers access to taxes, custom duties (pattern started in colonial times) Beef remains a major part of the Argentine economy.

Economic Effects United States Latin America Increasingly integrated (American System, railroads, banking, standard currency) Increasingly industrialized Free labor and slavery Influxes of immigrant labor kept labor prices low Highly capitalist Opportunities and resources for innovation All of this moved US toward a greater share of global market Limited integration Poor infrastructure Church played a large role in distributing capital/loans Agricultural (cash crops) Limited capitalism Debt peonage/slavery Wealth remained concentrated in elites- restricted innovation Remained dependent on industrial centers in US and Europe (Britain)

Overview 19th century Latin America was characterized by: - political instability (internal disputes) - violence - class tensions (issues of “national identity”) - dependency on relationships that favored foreign powers - regional conflicts - existence of privileged groups that protected their own power (church, military, elites) - border disputes (lack of officially defined borders) - rising war debt “predatory” elites and caudillos started to lose power in the 2nd half of the 19th century (in many cases, these changes led to modern revolutions – Mexico 1910, Cuba 1950s) Latin America feared invasion by European powers (esp. Spain and France, and in some ways, the US)