Chapter 9 Regionalism, War, and Reconstruction Politics and Economics,

© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Dilemmas of Nationhood Who Governs and What Form of Government? –Three branches--executive, legislature, and judiciary--with political participation limited Federalism/Centralism and Liberalism/Conservatism –Privileged groups distrusted lower classes

© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. The Challenge of Regionalism Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, and Central America –Required a series of civil wars to amalgamate nations from their disparate regions –Buenos Aires & struggle for centralization –Regionalism –Central Americans struggle against each other

The Challenge of Regionalism Brazil and Chile –Regional divisions –Regional leaders never ceased their opposition to the nation’s first ruler –Pedro II became emperor at age 14 –Regionalism determined Brazil’s political fate © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

A Century of War Wars of Political Consolidation Intra-Regional Wars –War of the Triple Alliance & War of the Pacific Foreign Wars –The Mexican War with the United States

A Century of War Civil Wars –Brazil endured continuous rebellions –Struggles between Liberals & Conservatives The Impact of War –Profound both politically and economically –Constant warfare militarized society –Rubbed raw old ethnic and class divisions © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Popular Participation Popular participation in the politics of nation building Local issues revolved around food prices and employment Lower classes’ crucial roles in national politics; upper class needed support The new rulers of Latin America

© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Caudillos Emerged to bridge the gap between the upper and lower classes Juan Manuel de Rosas –Afro-Argentines as a pillar of his regime Heroism & charisma were no guarantees for a long or successful political career

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The Challenge of Economic Recovery Obstacles to Development –Geography; laws, attitudes, and institutions Export Economies –Demand for agricultural commodities –European markets expanded rapidly –The Haitian revolution of 1791 –A pattern of boom and bust cycles emerged

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Conclusion 19 th century Latin America was a difficult time for governments & ordinary people High turnover for leaders Peru was worst case of unstable politics Postindependence Latin America also had its share of difficulties