Latin America Notes

Colonization through Independence

What was imperialism?

• One country dominating another country or region.

• It is political, economic, and cultural.

• European powers practiced imperialism in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

How was Latin America Conquered?

• 1492 it begins. Christopher Columbus.

• Hernan Cortes conquers the Aztec Empire in Mexico.

• Francisco Pizarro conquers the Inca in Peru.

How did so few Europeans conquer so many natives?

• Guns, Germs, & Steel. It’s a book title.

• Guns: they had them, natives didn’t.

• Germs: smallpox and other diseases kill millions of natives without firing a shot.

• Steel: armor and other European technologies puts natives at great disadvantage.

• Also, luck. Aztecs believed one of their gods was pale and bearded. Cortes was pale and bearded.

How was Latin America Governed?

• Officials were appointed by the Spanish king.

• They always had to be from Spain…this leads to problems later.

• There was no democracy…you had to do what the king’s people wanted you to do.

• The Catholic Church played a big role as well.

Was race a big issue?• Yes. Huge. You were defined by your race

and birth.

1. At the top were Peninsulars, people from Spain.

2. Creoles, people born in LA but of Spanish background.

3. Mestizos, people of mixed background. Don’t really fit in.

4. Black slaves from Africa.

5. Natives, the lowest, they had no rights.

What was the economy of the colonies like?

• Run by the encomienda system—basically feudalism in LA.

• Terrible conditions, natives worked to death.

• Black slaves brought from Africa after many natives die/run away.

• All land is owned by a few people.

Why did Spain’s LA colonies want to be independent?

• Creoles did not like that they were always second class citizens.

• Mestizos also wanted to be treated better.

• The Enlightenment influenced many of these people.

• Who else used Enlightenment ideas in their independence struggle?

• The United States.

Who were some of the leaders of independence movements?

• Simon Bolivar in South America.– Wanted to create a US of South America.

• Miguel Hidalgo in Mexico.– Not successful, executed, but called the Father of

Independence in Mexico.

• Toussaint Louverture in Haiti. – Haiti was the only successful slave uprising that

led to a new nation.