Modern Latin America

MODERN LATIN AMERICABy Tiffany Jacobs

HIST 141 (#71154)

MODERN LATIN AMERICA:FILIBUSTERING AGAINST MEXICO

Filibustering Against Mexico 1819-1911 “Filibusters” were American citizens, “Soldiers of Fortune”

They intervened in Latin America, militarily

Their purpose was to conquer territory and gain lands

Some did this to further the cause of the pro-slavery states

Filibusters found their footing in the Age of Revolution Most coveted lands were northern Mexico, Cuba, & Central America U.S. President Aaron Burr was involved in desire to conquer part of the

Spanish Southwest Gen James Wilkinson, U.S. Army Commander, conspired both for the Spanish

and against the Spanish Tried to detach Kentucky and Tennessee from U.S. to include with Spanish

Louisiana

Tried to detach Texas from Spain and create an entirely new country


Filibusters on land were much like pirates on the ocean Tough adventurers who traveled from all over the world in pursuit of money

The launched surprise attacks in small provinces far from the defense of the Mexican government

The filibusters would claim large regions and then rely on the U.S. to recognize and defend their claim

The filibusters did the dirty work for the U.S.

They endured hardships, equipped themselves with the best weapons, and were primarily interested in a good paycheck

The defending Mexican troops were ill equipped to face these hardened and unscrupulous filibusters

Mexicans were often civilians, bandits, or others who were not regular troops

Mexico was under duress from other sources and did not have troops available

The Mexican government had little or no warning of the surprise attacks by the filibusters


James Long attempts to seize the Texas region The Transcontinental Treaty of 1819, the U.S. gave up their claim to Texas in

exchange for Florida Long took this as an invitation to go take the region from Mexico

In June 1819, he took 75 followers, which grew to 300, in attempt to gain control Started in Mississippi and traveled to Nacogdoches (in then Spanish Texas)

Spanish reacted quickly this time with a force of 700 men under Colonel Ignacio Perez

Col Perez defeated the force while they were disbanded

Long fled across the Sabine River into the U.S.

Long didn’t give up easily In 1821, he took 51 men into Texas on a second attempt

Long used trickery to gain momentum in Central Mexico – he professed to support their bid for independence

Although he captured La Bahia unopposed, he was captured by Col Perez a few days later


Other Filibusters attempted to seize Mexican land while they were fighting their own internal war

Joseph C. Morehead led hundreds of filibusters into Mexico Attempted to seize Baja California and Sonora

Expedition failed

Count de Raousset de Boulbon attempted to establish a colony in Sonora Had permission of government in Mexico City, but not of the local forces

The Count fought and won, and then fell ill

His men were forced to accept payment in return for giving up their arms

William Walker attempted to lead a group of filibusters into northern Mexico His goal was to acquire Baja California

He failed to enter Mexico through a mining colony ploy

The U.S. stopped his ship once but he managed to sneak out of San Francisco a 2nd time

He fought like no other and escape capture and death from the Mexicans, the Indians, the weather and terrain, and a trial

He was a hero to the Southern expansionists and became the editor of the San Francisco Commercial Adventurer

MODERN LATIN AMERICA:THE SECOND WORLD (MEXICO: THE UMBILICAL CORD)

Mexico’s position today as America’s southern neighbor NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) passed in January, 1994

Was intended to help the Mexican economy and propel that country into the 1st world

NAFTA was perceived as a complete abdication of Mexico to America

There would not be an independent Latin America as long as NAFTA existed

An insurgency began as a result, led by Zapatista National Liberation Army

Mexico was shown to be 3rd world more than even 2nd world as a result

Globalization and China’s entry into the World Trade Organization further crippled Mexico

China has outpaced Mexico in manufacturing and exports to U.S.

More than 300 factories have shut down and moved to China

300,000 Mexican jobs lost

Direct correlation to increase of illegal immigration to the U.S.


Inequality and Instability Mexico is “a country of colonial monuments juxtaposed at every turn with ramshackle

slums,…” Social and food programs were instituted for the poor and elderly by Mexico City

mayor Mexicans still regularly protest ever increasing food prices

The Four Mexico’s Northern Region along the American border

Peso and American dollar are interchangeable

Central Mexico The country’s capital and “bread basket”

Isthmus region Beautiful, but economically destitute

“New Maya” region of the Yucatan Modernizing but overwhelmingly poor


Mexican immigration is a double-edged sword for America Immigrants take undesirable jobs that Americans supposedly do not want

Construction, labor, restaurant

Work harder, for longer hours, with less pay, and virtually no benefits

Immigrants tax our burdened healthcare, education, and social service programs Illegal immigrants receive health care benefits & assistants from welfare programs,

Our education systems are overwhelmed, especially in border communities like San Diego

Mexico reaps the benefits of illegal immigration in America Mexican “coyotes” profit from smuggling immigrants into the U.S.

Illegal drugs are smuggled through Mexico into the U.S. via local organized crime groups

The $16 billion in annual pay illegal immigrants receive in the U.S. are a primary source of Mexico’s national income

Raises their GDP to $9,000 per capita!


America’s neglect of Mexico has allowed China, and others, to gain American investors seek larger payoffs in China and Asia

China has moved into Mexico and Central America

They are building factories and employing locals

China is exporting to America from closer ports and making more money

America has missed the boat in Cuba & Haiti too China has become one of Cuba’s largest investors

Ahead of Canada and behind Venezuela

Haiti is considered the most destitute country in our hemisphere

U.S. has occupied and yet not improved the situation in Haiti

Chinese, Chilean, and Brazilian peacekeeping forces have helped to stabilize the country

“If America cannot demonstrate its hemispheric benevolence in its backyard, such leadership could rise northward from South America itself”

MODERN LATIN AMERICA:MEXICO IN 2011

Mexican Drug Wars - Human Trafficking, - Corruption Notable Deaths in Bloody January

January 6th - the poet and women's rights activist Susana Chávez is murdered in Ciudad Juarez

January 7th - Saúl Vara Rivera, Mexican politician, Mayor of Zaragoza, Coahuila, shot. (body found on this date)

January 10th - Abraham Ortiz Rosales, Mexican politician, Mayor of Te-Moak, shot. January 11th - Susana Chávez, Mexican poet and human rights activist, strangled. (death

confirmed on this date) January 13th - Luis Jiménez Mata, Mexican politician, Mayor of Santiago Amoltepec, shot.

Murders in Bloody January January 14th - Mexican Drug War: 14 people are killed in a shootout after 100 soldiers,

marines and police in Xalapa, Veracruz, surround a house January 25th - Gunmen open fire on a crowd at a soccer game in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico,

killing seven people

MODERN LATIN AMERICA:MEXICO IN 2011

Mexico is at war! February 13th - Unidentified gunmen kill eight people in Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl

part of the Mexico City Metropolitan Area February 15th - Two U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers are shot

while travelling between Monterrey and Mexico City with one officer dying February 20th - Mexican Drug War: 53 people are killed in a 72-hour period in

Ciudad Juarez, Mexico March 1-17th - bodies are found in clandestine graves in Mexico's Guerrero state April 6th - 2011 Tamaulipas massacre: At least 177 bodies are found in a mass

grave in Mexico's Tamaulipas state June 7th - The former Governor of Chiapas state in Mexico Pablo Salazar is arrested

on charges on embezzling more than $90 million from hurricane relief funds August 25th - 2011 Monterrey casino attack: more than 50 people are killed in an

attack on a casino in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico

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Modern Latin America