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Latin America Changes

Decent Essays

The Americas, now known as Latin America, has gone through many changes in its history, from being conquered by Spain and Portugal, to the people fighting for its independence and finally, making a living as newly independent countries. From the years 1850 to the end of the 19th century, each region had influences, specifically those that dealt with the after effects colonial rule had on the land. Nations that made up Latin America began modifying different portions in their government in attempts to benefit the majority of the people. More or so, they accomplished this goal, each with their own challenges. Evidently, changes within the social, political and economic systems were focused on external factors.
Ideas that came from Europe and …show more content…

In the 1800’s, Latin America was made up of people from different ethnicities as well as multi-ethnic people such as indigenous people, African people, including both slave and free, people of mixed blood (mestizos, mulatos, and others who were born from race …show more content…

Creole leaders anticipated for the hierarchy to stay in place after independence because they wanted to become the leaders of the nations. A nation that kept the social hierarchy after Independence was Brazil which had become an independent monarchy with Pedro I as their emperor. A year prior to 1889, a law was passed that abolished slavery within the region which eventually led to Brazil’s monarchy to collapse and soon right after, “In November 1889, the military proclaimed a republic.” During post colonialism, Liberalism started to make its way through Latin America. “Liberty. Equality. Popular Sovereignty. America for Americans.” were a few concepts that represented it. Liberal governments ruled most regions in Latin America, but often failed as they were changed every few years. Conflicts within new rising governments were often caused by the ideas Liberals and Conservatives had on specific topics, one being the amount of power given to the Church. Liberals desired to have the “freedom of worship and the separation of church and state” while conservatives “wanted Catholicism to remain the official religion of the new republics.” Liberals were influenced by progressive models while conservatives stayed with the old colonial model. Although liberalism wasn’t successful during the beginning of Independence, it managed to make its way back during the era of Progress, but not soon

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