Latin American History - Unit 3 Vocabulary (Ch. 4, 5, & 6)

Free Birth Law

A Law passed in Brazil in 1871. It freed children born to enslaved mothers after that year, but it stipulated that the "free" children would still have to serve their mothers' owners until reaching adulthood.

Regency

A government or period of time in which an agent rules in place of a king or queen.

Haitian Revolution

A major influence of the Latin American revolutions because of its successfulness; the only successful slave revolt in history; it is led by Toussaint L'Ouverture.

Caudillo

A political boss or overlord of a politically distinctive territory.

Costumbrismo

A trend in literature that emphasizes the depiction of the everyday manners and customs of a particular social class or region.

William Walker

American adventurer, he led an expedition to seize control on Nicaragua in 1855. He wanted to petition for annexation to the US as a new slave state but failed when several Latin American countries sent troops to oust him.

Juana Manuela Gorriti

An author whose writings were "feminine" and instructive, rather than scandalous. She concerned herself with women's issues. She regularly hosted events called "Salons" where people discussed literature and Progress. She served as a pioneer battlefield nurse.

Progress

An idea of inevitable, all conquering technological advancement and liberal ideology.

Postcolonialism

An intellectual, political, and cultural movement that calls for the independence of subject states and also liberation from ways of thinking related to their subjected nature.

Domingo Faustino Sarmiento

Argentine president. Hated the rule of caudillos that had emerged after independence and worked to develop society based on European values. He believed that when cities dominated the countryside, only then could social stability and genuine liberty be possible.

Joaquim Nabuco

Brazilian writer, statesman, and a leading voice in the abolitionist movement of his country.

Gauchos

Cowboys of the pampas of Argentina

Pedro II

Emperor of Brazil from 1831 to 1889. He became emperor at age 5 when his father abdicated. He strengthened Brazil as a nation by improving the economy, transportation, communication and education. He was ousted in 1889 and Brazil became a republic.

Golden Law

Ended slavery completely in Brazil.

Jose de San Martin

Leader of independence movement in Rio de la Plata; led to independence of the United Provinces of the Rio de la Plata by 1816; later led independence movement in Chile and Peru as well.

Fueros

Legal exemption granted to church; Fees were paid by the community for religious services.

Melchor Ocampo

Liberal Politician who exemplified the anti-clerical tenor of Mexico's mid-1800s Reform. Scandalized the nation by announcing that God did not exist.

Tupac Amaru II

Mestizo leader of Indian revolt in Peru who was supported by many among lower social classes. The revolt eventually failed because of Creole fears of real social revolution.

Benito Juarez

Mexican national hero; brought liberal reforms to Mexico, including separation of church and state, land distribution to the poor, and an educational system for all of Mexico.

Jose Maria Morelos

Mexican priest and former student of Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, he led the forces fighting for Mexican independence until he was captured and executed in 1814.

Miguel Hidalgo

Mexican priest and revolutionary. Although the revolt he initiated (1810) against Spanish rule failed, he is regarded as a national hero in Mexico's struggle for independence from Spain.

Triple Alliance War

Paraguay struggled against Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay from 1865 to 1870. The bloodiest conflict in South American history. Led to social strife as the lower classes felt they were used as cannon fodder.

Maximilian von Habsburg

Proclaimed emperor of Mexico following intervention of France in 1862; ruled until overthrow and execution by liberal revolutionaries 1867.

Pedro I

Son and successor of Joao VI in Brazil; aided in the declaration of Brazilian independence from Portugal in 1822; became constitutional emperor of Brazil.

Ultramontane Catholicism

The conservative backlash against the gospel of Progress.

Bartolome Mitre

The first president of United Argentina. He successfully led the forces of Buenos Aires against the confederation, uniting the two regions. He epitomized the nineteenth century liberal man of letters.

Simon Bolivar

The most important military leader in the struggle for independence in South America. Born in Venezuela, he led military forces there and in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia.

Americanos

The nativist term used during the wars of independence to suggest a natural alliance among all people born in America against the Spaniards and Portuguese.

Patronage politics

The use of government resources to reward ones family, cronies, or other individuals for their electoral support.

Litmus Test

When a single factor (such as an attitude, event, or fact) is decisive in making a decision.