Latin American History What Were the Main

Latin American History

What were the main external and internal threats facing the Spanish Empire in the Americas from the 16th -19th centuries? The Spanish Empire, by virtue of the timing of the discovery and placement of colonies in the New World, was the first global empire. Spain, however, was very dependent upon the resources it could export in order to battle England and France for hegemony on the seas and in the New World. Essentially, the Empire was too large to manage effectively and Spain was engaged almost continually in multi-front wars for control over territory without the resources to adequately hold those territories. During the Habsburg Golden Age, roughly 1516-1643, Spain controlled the Holy Roman Empire and, from the political capital of Seville, ruled the world. Rather than a more modern approach to investment, the wealthy of Spain invested in public debt rather than in production, manufacturing and agriculture. They were conservative in nature and wanted to hold on to a Medieval economic structure. This prevented as much internal investment that would result in the Industrial Revolution in other countries. There were also religious conflicts in Europe, Catholic vs. Protestant, that bled needed resources. By the mid-1600s, Spain had lost control over the Low Countries, much of Italy and France, and with the Great Plague of Seville in 1647, lost 25 per cent of its population which, in combination with years of war and overextension of fiscal means, reduced the Empire's power.

Part 2 -- What were the main causes of the Spanish American independence movement? Spanish American independence took place during the early 19th century after the French invasion of Spain during the Napoleonic Wars. Most scholars characterize these as wars of independence and national liberation that resulted in a chain of newly independent countries that were located from Argentina and Chile in the South to Mexico in the North. In fact, after the death of Spain's King Ferdinand VII in 1833, only Cuba and Puerto Rico remained under Spanish rule; both of which would be lost to the United States control during the Spanish-American War of 1898. The major causes of the movements were economic. Span, in the Bourbon Reforms, appointed outsiders to rule the various offices in the Empire, causing the loss of power for the Spanish Americans holding office or influence. Second, more taxes and resources were being asked for by Spain and removed from the local area. Third, Enlightenment thinking (Locke, Hobbes, Rousseau, even Jefferson) set the stage for social and economic reform. Most of the agricultural elite in Latin America had been there for generations, thus resenting continual Spanish control and excessive movement of capital out of the country.

Part 3 -- Compare and contrast Latin America's early 19th century liberal and conservative factions. The ideas of liberalism and conservatism really began in Latin America after 1808 and the Napoleonic Wars. Many in Latin America turned towards liberal ideas, seeing that the time for independence was at hand (the ideas of liberty, equality and popular sovereignty). Conservative systems were pre-existing and tied to the rule of Kings and ruling blood lines. The conservatives feared populism, and did what they could to hold on to power. However, the contest between liberals and conservatives in Latin America, despite the philosophical basis, was primarily fought between the landed elite. The systems of power for the last two centuries insured that the Indians, Africans and mixed race peoples had little power compared to the rather small creole ruling class. In many countries, however, the conservatives promised protection and restoration of order (e.g. Mexico and Argentina). However, in other countries the poverty and economic schism was so large that the debate began to take on more local movements that were based on the traditional pre-Spanish culture. Because agriculture was so engrained in the economics of society, much of the battle took place on that front, with repercussions still in evidence into the late 20th century (Peru's Shining Path, for example).