Villalobos Eamon Barkhordarian

Period C 3/10/09

Review Questions pg. 356

1. Reading Focus
a. What political and economic problems faced new Latin American nations?
i. For most people, life did not improve after independence. The new
constitutions guaranteed equality before the law, but deep rooted
inequalities remained. Voting rights were limited, radical prejudice
was widespread, and land remained in the hands of a few. With few
roads and on tradition of unity, the new nations were weakened by
regionalism. Local strongmen, called caudillos, assembled private
armies to resist the central government. Popular caudillos gained
national power. They looted the treasury, ignored the constitution,
and ruled as dictators. Power struggled led to frequent revolts that
were pointless. In the long run, power remained in the hands f a
privileged few who had no desire to share it. Under colonial rule
Latin America became economically dependent on Spain and
Portugal. In the 1800s, foreign goods flooded Latin America,
creating large profits for foreigners and for a handful of local
business people. Investors from Britain, the United States, and other
nations might pressure their own government to take action if
political events or reform movements in a Latin American country
seemed to threaten their interests.
b. How did Mexico struggle for stability?
i. Between 1833 and 1855, an ambitious and cunning caudillo, Antonio
Lopez de Santa Anna, gained and lost power many times. At first, he
posed as a liberal reformer. Soon however, he reversed his stand and
crushed efforts at reform. In Mexico’s territory of Texas, discontent
grew. Settlers from the US and other countries began an
independence movement. In 1835 Americans and some Mexicans in
Texas revolted. The next year they set up an independent republic. In
1845, US annexed Texas. Mexico saw this as a declaration of war.
As they began to fight, the US invaded and defeated Mexico. In the
treaty ending the war, Mexico lost almost half its territory. This
defeat shook the Creole ruling class and triggered new violence
between conservatives and liberals. In 1855, Benito Juarez and other
liberals seized power and opened an era of reform known as La
Reforma. Juarez, a Zapotec Indian, offered hope to the oppressed
people of Mexico. He and his fellow reformers revised the Mexican
constitution to strip the military of power and end the special
privileges of the church. They ordered the Church to sell unused
lands to the peasants. He was eventually elected president in 1861
although his actions triggered a civil war. Later, he fought
conservative and French forces for four years. He eventually won.
After Juarez died, General Porifirio Diaz, a hero of the war against
Villalobos Eamon Barkhordarian
Period C 3/10/09

the French, gained power. He ruled as a dictator from 1876-1880 and

1884-1911. In the name of “Order and Progress,” he strengthened
the army, local police, and central government. Any opposition was
brutally crushed. Under his harsh rule, Mexico made some
impressive economic advances. Growth however, had a high cost,
for capital for development came from foreign investors, to whom
Diaz granted special rights. The rich prospered but most Mexicans
remained poor. This led middle class citizens to demand democracy.
c. How did the United States influence Latin America?
i. Britain asked the US to join in a statement opposing any new
colonization of the Americas. President James Monroe wanted to
avoid any entangling alliance with Britain. Acting alone, he issued
the Monroe doctrine. “The American continents, it declared, “are
henceforth not to be considered as subjects for further colonization
by any European Powers.” The US lacked the military power to
enforce this doctrine. Britain supported this. For more than a century,
the Monroe Doctrine would be the key to the United States policy in
the Americas. As a result of the war with Mexico, the US acquired
thinly populated regions of Northern Mexico, including the Colorado
River Valley and California. In a peace treaty ending the brief
Spanish-American war, the US received Puerto Rico, the
Philippines, and Guam. American investments in Latin America
soared in the early 1900s. Citing the need to protect those
investments, the US issued the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe
Doctrine. Under this, the US claimed international police power in
the Western Hemisphere. When the Dominican Republic failed to
pay its foreign debts, the US sent in troops and remained there for
years collecting money. The Panama Canal was also built when the
United States was granted land to build the canal from the
Panamanians.
2. Identify
a. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna
i. Between 1833 and 1855, an ambitious and cunning caudillo, Antonio
Lopez de Santa Anna, gained and lost power many times. At first, he
posed as a liberal reformer. Soon however, he reversed his stand and
crushed efforts at reform. In Mexico’s territory of Texas, discontent
grew.
b. Benito Juarez
i. In 1855, Benito Juarez and other liberals seized power and opened
an era of reform known as La Reforma. Juarez, a Zapotec Indian,
offered hope to the oppressed people of Mexico. He and his fellow
reformers revised the Mexican constitution to strip the military of
power and end the special privileges of the church. They ordered the
Church to sell unused lands to the peasants. He was eventually
elected president in 1861 although his actions triggered a civil war.
Villalobos Eamon Barkhordarian
Period C 3/10/09

c. Porfirio Diaz
i. After Juarez died, General Porifirio Diaz, a hero of the war against
the French, gained power. He ruled as a dictator from 1876-1880 and
1884-1911. In the name of “Order and Progress,” he strengthened
the army, local police, and central government. Any opposition was
brutally crushed. Under his harsh rule, Mexico made some
impressive economic advances. Growth however, had a high cost,
for capital for development came from foreign investors, to whom
Diaz granted special rights. The rich prospered but most Mexicans
remained poor. This led middle class citizens to demand democracy.
d. Monroe Doctrine
i. President James Monroe wanted to avoid any entangling alliance
with Britain. Acting alone, he issued the Monroe doctrine. “The
American continents, it declared, “are henceforth not to be
considered as subjects for further colonization by any European
Powers.” The US lacked the military power to enforce this doctrine.
Britain supported this. For more than a century, the Monroe Doctrine
would be the key to the United States policy in the Americas.
e. Roosevelt Corollary
i. American investments in Latin America soared in the early 1900s.
Citing the need to protect those investments, the US issued the
Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine. Under this, the US
claimed international police power in the Western Hemisphere.
3. Define
a. Regionalism
i. Loyalty to a local area.
b. Caudillo
i. Local strongmen
c. Economic Dependence
i. Controlled by a developed nation, and where a less developed nation
exports its raw materials into the developed nation and imports
manufactured goods, capital, and technology know-how.
d. Peonage
i. System by which workers owe labor to pay their debt.