Enlightenment Period effect on Latin America

Differences between cultures are not something new. Many of us can still see it in our daily lives. Four hundred years ago two very distinctly different cultures clashed in what we call the American Southwest. The Spanish presence brought new ideas, new culture, and new way of life to the new found Americas much to the demise of the already settled native tribes. Already having controlled much of Mexico and South America, problems were rising in the outskirts of New Spain. Secular and religious authorities were in conflict and the ever growing animosity of its aboriginal tribe made it difficult to maintain Spanish control. Though, for four generations the Spaniards had begun to feel successful in their endeavors of

With other Latin American uprisings occurring Simon Bolivar led the South American independence. Bolivar was a wealthy Creole born in Venezuela but educated in Spain. Influenced by Enlightenment ideas, Bolivar called for independence for all South Americans. He gained firm control of his native Venezuela in 1819. His armies then turned toward Columbia and Ecuador. In the south Jose de San Martin rallied Argentinean forces against Spain. Bolivar and San Martin met in Peru, which became independent along with Upper Peru (Bolivia) in 1824. Although Bolivar was unsuccessful in uniting South Americans into a single nation, he is known as the continent's "liberator."

In chapter one Conquerors and Victims: The Image of America Forms (1500-1800) Gonzalez talks about the impact upon the arrival of the Europeans to America. This arrival was categorized as “the greatest and most important event in the history of human kind”. Spain and England were two countries that had a big impact on our modern world and transplanted their cultures around the territories they took over. Both countries created their empires in which they established on their identities and viewpoint of their language and social customs. Upon their arrival the native population was outnumbered, many of which live around Mexico’s Valley and others populate the Central Andes region and Rio Grande.

All of the aforementioned factors contributed to the independence movement of Mexico. However, the main steps towards independence came because of Napoleon’s invasion of Spain in 1808. The monarchy was greatly weakened when Napoleon gave the crown to his brother causing the people of Madrid to revolt. With Spain’s back turned, the leaders of New Spain began to argue amongst themselves. The viceroy was forced to allow the Criollos to participate in administration. Then, a group of Peninsulares, those who had been placed in many of the administrative positions, did not like that the Criollos were gaining any influence in the government. They staged a coup d’etat and overthrew the viceregal government.

Aztec sovereignty was recognized and tribute paid. They found that their military power was less

This constitution of United Mexican States provided for a very weak national government and the powers of the government and its states are not defined which caused increasing tension between each state.

There are many different crucial sources that demonstrate the global influences of Atlantic revolutionary movements and Enlightenment views on human rights. Enlightenment philosophies of government and human rights ignited the revolutionary transformation in all of the Atlantic world. Political leaders on both sides of the Atlantic wanted to incorporate European Enlightenment concepts into their societies. Revolutions began to build on one another, taking the different ideas from other regions and implementing them into their own societies. The American, French, Spanish and Haitian revolutions triggered the development of new human rights all around the world.

José de la Cruz Porfirio Diaz Mori, the 29th president of Mexico, opened Mexico to foreign investors and companies who exploited Mexico’s resources such as land, copper, gold, silver, water, and cheap labor for corporate gain. This caused economic instability in the way that Mexico placed power in the hands of large corporations and Mexican politicians.

What once was a relatively free and peaceful place started to feel the wrath of the cruel invaders. After decades of the Spanish rule, the Latin American colonies decided to finally take back what once was theirs. Latin America, under the rule of Spanish forces, faced problems. The revolutions that took place during this time were influenced by the ideas from the Age of Enlightenment.

In 1824 the Mexican government ratified the country’s first Constitution, but in doing so split the country into two diametrically opposed political ideologies. On one side you had the centralists, who favored the central government possessing much of the authority. The other was the federalists, who were in favor of states rights.

During the fight for independence the Creoles had may leaders along the way that helped to end the Peninsulares. Some of the leaders were military and religious figures that helped to make independent nations. These leaders lead the Americanos and influenced them to unite them as a nation state. They were doing this because Portugal and other nations were not involved with them and yet they ruled them and the Americanos wanted administrative power from the Peninsulares. The Creoles led the fight for independence in Latin America because they wanted to create a stable government, they needed to have a strong economy and they wanted to unite the people as a nation state.

How did de las Casas define the differences between indigenous peoples in the Americas and Spaniards in the Americas?

Simon Bolivar, who had a reputation of being a liberator, took center stage. The common folk began to trust his words, as he talked about fighting for the resources that were theirs, ideals taken directly from the American Revolution itself. Also with the power struggle created by the Napoleonic wars, uprisings began. The most prominent of this movement was the uprising in Chuquisaca in 1809, which led to the formation of the Government Juntas. This group focused on taking the power from the Spanish and giving it to the people. Seeing the movement in Bolivia take shape, Latin Nations such as Peru began to provide military support to Bolivian liberators. Surprisingly, America didn’t live up to its reputation, having no negative impact on this revolution. Normally, America had been notorious for backing up the dictators or colonial powers and suppressing the Latin liberators. All in all, the combination of a power struggle brought upon by foreign wars, introduction of revolutionary independence ideals, proper leadership, and foreign aid, the Bolivian revolution was successful in liberating the nation from Spanish Colonial power after 16 years of conflict.

Diaz used this philosophy to make reasons for his policies. Diaz kept his old slogan "liberty, order, progress", but, the word liberty was removed from the slogan. Another slogan "few politics, much administration” also became common and popular. Foreign firms began to invest in Mexico because it became more structurally and economically stable. These investments gave Diaz the money he needed to construct highways, railroads, telegraph lines, and new industries. The city of Veracruz used the money to create oil fields, and elsewhere the mining industry was brought back. Mexico, fifty years before was seen as a third-world nation, became the standard for developing countries because of its high tech industry and technology. Although these were all big steps for Mexico's economy, in the end it was responsible for the bringing down of Diaz. (Encarta 98, www.eh.net.htm)

The new liberal generation that emerged during the 1840s were for the most part ambitious provincials whose ability for social mobility was made possible by growth of secondary education during the Independence period. Young men of such social backgrounds had particular reasons to challenge the established power. Their goal was to destroy those colonial institutions that could potentially block their social mobility. Specifically, the Catholic church. This new generation of politicians looked to form their own identity, and were receptive to European influences that had very little appeal to the already established politicians. These new external forces helped to polarize the political field. The root of the polarization was what to do with religion. Liberal attitudes toward the Church were shaped not only be ideological considerations but also by Conservative exploitation of clerical grievances. Relations between the federal government deteriorated during the presidential term of Tomas Mosquera (1866-67). Tension became increasingly severe after 1870, mainly because of clerical opposition to the educational program that was launched by the Salgar administration that year. This caused a Conservative revolution that that was openly supported by clergy men, which won support even among some liberals. Columbian Conservatives were no more uniform than their