GOVERNMENTS AND POLITICS IN POST-INDEPENDENT LATIN AMERICA

1. GOVERNMENTS AND POLITICS IN POST-INDEPENDENT LATIN AMERICA

2. Latin American Society After Independence • The old hierarchy was in place but Criollos replaced peninsulares at the top • Governments abolish the caste system; now in theory everyone (excepts slaves) are equal • Class system means (in theory) you can move up into the next class

3. Latin American Governments After Independence • All of the governments were republics in name and in theory • Brazil was a limited monarchy • Mainly initially led by those who worked to free them • Criollos held highest government positions in most of Latin America

4. Government Challenges After Independence • They had few resources or any industry to generate income • Economic devastation was common following wars of independence • Lack of internal transportation made trade and communication difficult • Criollos see land as safest investment and work to enlarge encomiendas

5. Government Challenge After Independence Cont. • Institutions of Democracy new and unfamiliar • Political parties formed slowly • Armies were overdeveloped and top heavy with well paid officers • As government falters conservatives work with military to impose order • Coups become way of dealing with weak governments • Many see politics as the way to personal enrichment

6. Patronage Politics in Latin America • Patronage: “you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours” • Particularly powerful when the economy is weak • Corruption becomes widespread • Members of political parties give benefits to friends and family in return for votes

7. The Caudillo System • Caudillo: Dictator • Large landowners. Charismatic, often famous from wars for independence • Use personal wealth to buy votes and maintain armies • Come to power throughout Latin America • Maintain appearance of constitutionalism but ruled as dictators • Rewrote constitution each time new leader came to power

9. The Effect of Caudillos and Patronage Politics on Democracy in Modern Latin America • Individuals become more important than democracy • Toppling of govts. By force becomes system of changing leaders • Elections are about bribery not plans • Vote counts are manipulated through fraud • Voting fraudulence leads to revolutions • People prevented from voting lose faith in Democracy

10. Economics and Politics in Latin America Early 20th Century to the cold war

11. Neocolonialism • Neocolonial period- Independence -1930 • Former colonies still dependant on export of raw materials • Landowners expand plantations---small farmers out of business • Out of work farmers move to cities---squaters

12. Neocolonialism • Coffee, Sugar and banana plantations • United Fruit Company owns banana plantations—more powerful than economies of the countries • Mines open: owned by foreigners, profits don’t help LA • Rulers benefit from taxes on exports: use for police and military

13. INVOLVEMENT BY THE US • US sees Latin America as backyard • Following Spanish American War, US is dominant in Latin America • Roosevelt Corollary: US marines will prevent European intervention and can discipline Latin American countries

14. US INVOLVEMENT • US soldiers occupy Nicaragua, Haiti, Dominican Republic 1910-1930s • People in LA see the US as imperialistic

15. 1930s – Cold War • Nationalism and Anti US sentiment on the Rise • Great depression starts 1929: reduces world wide demand for exports • Development of Import Substitution Industrialization (ISI): cant afford imports need to manufacture • ISI means industry grows: Nationalist idea of abandoning export economy • Governments become more involved in economies • ISI does not work well in less populated countries because rural population could not maintain consumer spending needed

16. 1930s –Cold War • Shantytowns sprawl outside industrialized cities • Many leaders become populists who attract poor and middle class

17. Post World War II • Those who come to power depend on votes of lower classes and make more socialist concessions to keep power • Population soars with improved health and sanitation. Latin American countries become most urbanized

18. Post World War II • Bad conditions---people want more Marxist changes • Voting is open and in some cases mandatory for all people

19. Early Days of Cold War • Communism is seen as biggest threat to the US and US is willing to spend money to halt it • US applies diplomatic pressure to stay democratic • US puts pressure on Latin America to produce raw materials to halp growing post war economy

20. Early Days of Cold War • Companies that did business in Latin America sent outdated equipment so LA could never be as advanced • Anything other than free trade seen as Un American---attempts in LA to nationalize seen as Communism

21. Early Days of Cold War • Organization of American States (OAS) becomes dominated by US to stop spread of Communism • 1954—OAS issues declaration of Caracas: all marxist ideas are Un American---any Marxist movement will be treated as a foreign invasion

22. Guatemala and the US • Guatemala votes against declaration of Caracas • Democratic elections 1944-54 following years of Dictator

23. Guatemala and the US • Jose Arevalo: urges better pay for workers • Jacobo Arbenz: takes large plantations and redistributes to poor---took land from the United Fruit Company • US accuses of Communist behavior

24. Guatemala and the US • US secretary of State John Foster Dulles has personal interest • Allen Dulles had been head of CIA and pres. Of United Fruit

25. Guatemala and the US • 1954 US proxy force: recruited locals trained and armed by CIA • Invades Hondurus and joins Guatemala to outs Arbenz • Military rule established—decades of murder

26. Why did developments in Latin America following WWII threaten US political and economic interests in that region? • What actions did the US take to guard those interests?  • What impact do you think the actions of the US have played in the development of democracy in Latin America? • What impact do you think the actions of the US have had had on immigration both legal and illegal to the US?