HIST 143
Colonial Period
(1492-1822) 1500s-Europeans arrived and invaded. Created Latin America 1600s-basic patterns of life get set up 1700s-growth of certain tensions leading to independence in 1822
3 variants of Latin American countries' population make up:
1) Indigenous majorities, everyone has indigenous heritage in their family, ex: Bolivia, Guatemala, Peru, Ecuador Follow indigenous culture, speak the language, customs, dress
National Period
1810-1822: Latin American countries became independent from the mother country 1822-1870: Latin American countries newly independent, high hopes for future, experience generations of disappointment, stagnation and conflict called "The Period of National Consolidation" 1870-1930: Neocolonialism-things were arranged in a way for Latin Americans to have European countries be their colonizing masters. Didn't happen through invasion and direct rule, but money and investment. The greatest power was Great Britain. Colonialism revisited, but with a different spin and mostly about indirect control and $$$$ 1930-1990: Latin American countries began to take more positive moves to create societies about themselves, rather than imitation of Europe or a new colonial role in the world economy
The parts of the colonial period:
1st: 1500s-resonable description of the encounter 2nd: 1600s-certain patterns set up that will last for a long time 3rd: 1700s-things change (The Late Colonial Period) transition from colonial to independent Latin America "Postcolonial blues" early post-independence
3 variants of Latin American countries' population make up:
2) Majority of population of African descent. Ex: Brazil, Cuba, Haiti, The DR
3 variants of Latin American countries' population make up:
3) Majority of European descent. Ex: Argentina, Uruguay, Santiago, Buenos Aires Very close to each other in part of Latin America characterized by being chilly climate like Southeast U.S. 4 seasons and can grow crops That's why European people are there
Junta
A committee or group that gets together to resist French, representing Spanish country, make their own government and write a constitution send word to New World colonies are ready to fight to defend Spanish king (hegemony) colonies in new world are not loyal to Spanish junta, just the king
Portugal-Brazil
After Napoleon occupancy Brazil is now main Portuguese center King raised Brazil to status of kingdom equal to, if not bigger than, Portugal
Subsistence activities
Allowing free roaming, living space to work and have family-still obligated to convert to religion Didn't require incorporating into the economic system sometimes enslaved or treated as though enslaved Best case they were paid, didn't allow to live on their own time
Mexico
An "in between" country Mestizaje-mixture Most of LA between the tropics and have warm days and winter days. During dry season, huge areas go under drought for months and trees lose leaves. They look dead but are just conserving moisture
Fringe
Areas between core-colonization Interacting with the center but not the same as the center NOT areas of colonizing activity, indigenous still live the same as before Spanish/Portuguese who did enter this area were often missionaries
Core
Areas producing products like central Mexico and Andes (for the Spanish) getting silver And for Portuguese occupying Brazil, getting sugar cane
At the top:
Europeans born in Portugal and Spain-smallest percentage of the population
The meaning of "Americano"
Before independence, the word was short for American Spaniard, it was only used for white people at the top of the hierarchy But Bolivar began to appeal to everyone as Americanos-changed the meaning of the word by the end of the wars of independence, anyone born in the New World considered themselves an Americano
The Reconquest
Brutal, public executions of juntas even women, taking away property, trying to reestablish sense of superiority of monarch and Spain over America
Mexico City
Built on top Aztec capital, cathedral of Mexico on top of what was the great pyramid (The center of Aztec religious power) and what was built was the Spanish religious power
Juntas
Committees of people who really wanted to break free from Spain when they had freedom of action b/c they were in power in these established groups, sometimes they tried to use this force to move towards independence, declare it These were the kind of things Fernando was worried about
TEST QUESTION
Compare Brazil independence to Spanish-American independence-Brazil was best country at conducting independence process, in contrast to Spanish, America having to totally reconstruct everything
In the absence of a monarch...
Create a republic! It is a structure of government that doesn't require a monarch Republics didn't work well, weren't very solid Economic structure scrambled, a lot to rebuild. Trade exports linked with Spain and Portugal were destroyed New government institutions needed to be rebuilt but they were weak and broke-couldn't tax anyone
Transculturation
Cultural change that results from a "give and take" process by which two cultures influence each other, it was a two-way street or hybrid culture made up of elements from both sides Latin American cultures created-not solely Spanish, not solely indigenous and not solely African, but a combination of all 3
San Martin tries to invite monarch
Good leader starting in Argentina his idea was to get a monarch from the royal family of Spain to have royal blood Martin failed to find monarch willing to come
French ideas manipulated by Napoleon
He wants to assert French power all over Europe through French Revolution but freedoms not easy to enjoy under Napoleon, didn't stick to his word Conquers Spain and Portugal, puts his brother on Spanish throne
Who did they conquer?
Highly developed indigenous civilizations: Incas and Aztecs in modern day Mexico and Peru, wanted their wealth and labor. Highly developed places were easier to take over b/c societies were strongly structured and power could simply be switched over-kidnap and execute their leader
Economies-Portuguese conquering
In Brazil they grew sugar cane, rare and very prize in Europe so Portuguese shipping back sugar cane instead of silver
Bolivar changes his appeal
Instead of saying a republic or down with the king--America for the Americans, America should be governed by people born in the New World, everyone should share the same loyalty and be on the same side
Napoleon is defeated
King of Spain returns to his throng, didn't appreciate new juntas! sends armies to New World to enforce them acting like colonies led to them breaking loyalty for king
The Andes (South America)
Mountains: very high (like Rockies) Lots of climate variation up and down the mountain slopes-3 different ridges (sea level is hot with palm trees, really hot valley and then cold snow on top) Can be very close to each other but have entirely different climates Highest level-mostly indigenous, bodies adapted to thinner air so they can breathe (Tierra frija) Mid level-city in Columbia, eternal spring time neither hot or cold (Tierra templada) Bottom-hot, all the way down at sea level (tierra caliente)
The 1700s
Latin American societies growing, becoming more complex middle caste growing larger-upwardly mobile: they have a foot in both groups, speak more languages and understand more, become wealthier and try to get higher positions The people at the top of hierarchy (pure Euro descent) are not happy about this, creates tension
Catholicism in Latin America
Today, LA is the most Catholic place in the world as a result of the European takeover
Spain and Portugal in 1600s
No separation of church and state, Christianity official religion, Jews expelled if didn't convert and even if they did they were under suspicion. Muslims fled 1492-Jews expelled from Spain completing Christian conquest of Iberia, crusading mentality spilling into new direction of new world
Reason for conquering new world
Official reason: religion Idea: desire to succeed material, not interested in places they didn't see wealth. Were they hypocrites? Truly thought it was what God wanted them to do
Fringe areas
Out in the thinner parts with less colonial economic activity, the conquering Spaniards and Portuguese were doing less desirable tasks designed to aid those in the centers of economic activity in getting rich. These fringe areas are more desirable for the indigenous people because they are not being bothered as much
Middle:
People of indigenous decent but born in the new world (Mestizos) lots of mixing going on-key to Latin American history. Understood the society their mother and father lived in, still understand indigenous side of family and can talk about those people Crucial sector of the pyramid to be watching! use caste system "casts" your caste determined your life activities, idea of knowing your place
Slavery
Remained in places still controlled by spain, but wasn't necessarily abolished immediately after countries became independent Put slavery under strain with political system Overall, put on a course of destruction in Spanish America upon independence
Fernando responds (reconquest)
Sends Spanish troops to the new world, about 10,000 to reconquer America. In a way they succeeded, put down juntas that had formed while Napoleon conquered Spain Troops changed public opinion about Spain in America, loyalty to Spanish monarch dissolved during reconquest
Europe in the 1700s
The Old Regime-before French Revolution idea of power/control that had to do with power and religion Monarchy by Divine Right-God told them to
Nations
The wars of independence created the idea of unified nations that din't exist yet The political structure of Spanish-America wasn't strong enough to keep it together-promises of inclusiveness, a hard job to follow First impulse was to get a monarch
Mexico known as "Kingdom of New Spain"
They are not a colony that the Spaniards can tell what to do, refusing idea of colonialism at the same time Saying they're only loyal to the king-so the new world forms their own juntas (saying they're not a colony but are loyal to their king)
Simon Bolivar
Wanted from break from Spanish and form a republic Core, radical leadership pushing towards independence Not a great general, lost battles for years while pushing liberal agendas-was a very unpopular idea
The Colonial Structure becoming stricter
being tightened, Spanish/Portuguese talked about new kingdoms, not like theirs but colonies that exist to serve their interests Idea of colony suggests uneven relationship could extract more $ from colonies added taxes, monopolized products (only the crown could license you to make liquor, crown income source) Reasserting idea that pure European descent were superior Creating laws to make sure middle class didn't rise too high
Brazil
difficult to incorporate bringing the rights of man into a society dependent on slavery Brazilian colony was not sympathetic to liberal, radical ideas anymore than Spanish colonies were
Brazil king escapes Napoleon
flees on ship to brazil during the time Napoleon was occupying Portugal, loyalty to king was strengthened because he was present in Brazil and near his people So Brazil didn't want to accept liberal ideas and change The king also didn't wanna go back to Portugal when it came time
TEST QUESTION
how did independence come about the way it did? What were the effects of it? AKA decolonization
The Story of the Virgin of Guadalupe (transculturation)
indigenous, dark skin. She appeared to the Virgin Mary, miracle in place sacred to an Aztec earth goddess named Tunazi. The indigenous called the Virgin of Guadalupe Tunazi (Aztec name) Indigenous people buying into the religion, accepting there is a Mexican embodiment of the virgin that has an indigenous face, but they are making it their own
Fernando the 7th
least loved Spanish king, he didn't appreciate what had been done in his name divine right/absolute monarch and didn't like that people had been using liberal ideas to defend Spain from Napoleon When he was restored his throne, subjugated the committees (juntas) that had been formed in Spanish America to defend his rights
Bottom:
majority of population (60%) in 1600s. Indigenous people still living in kinds of villages they lived in before. This tier is split because some include people of African descent. Either/or situation
"Liberals" mean the end of the Old Regime in Europe
people being conquered used the above ideas to stand against French, stood for liberty=liberals word became popular in England-adopted liberal and conservative parties
Simon Bolivar and Hildalgo
people that went into juntas with ideas already about independence These are minority ideas, still very important
The French Revolution changes Europe
political power rises from the ruler to the ruled-right to choose who ruled them Freedom of speech, assembly and religion, right to engage in economic activity, free trade ((These are the founding principles of the U.S. Constitution))-Western political values known as Liberalism, government that doesn't do much not what you would think of with modern day liberalism--for a long time simply called French ideas
Hegemony
soft power, convincing someone they ought to and want to do what you want them to do When indigenous people accepted the basic world view of their conquerors, accepting their religion It may be their understanding of the world tells them that what you are instructing them to do is the right thing to do Accepting catholicism of the spanish monarch, once you accept Catholicism you accept the entire concept of colonial rule
Economies of Latin America-Spanish conquering
unequally distributed among the land. Silver mining was key to Spanish-colonial set up Missions were often between centers of colonial and economic activity, not in the middle Important centers: Mexico and the Andes
Mexico tries to invite monarch
wanted monarch from Spain, offered to Fernando but he declined. Ended up choosing one of their own Creole to be monarch, didn't end up working because didn't actually have the blue blood
