Economic Imperialism in Latin America

A political system where different regions within a country have a significant degree of autonomy or self-governance.

A strong, often authoritarian leader, particularly in Latin America during the 19th century.

A situation where a country's economy heavily relies on another country for investment, technology, and goods.

A system of labor where workers are tied to a specific employer, often through debt or forced labor.

The process where powerful nations exert economic influence over less developed countries, often through investment and trade.

The struggles Mexico faced to establish a stable government and economy after independence, including rebellions and revolutions.

The ways in which the United States exerted influence over Latin America, often through diplomatic pressure, economic investment, and military interventions.

Latin American countries' economies' dependence on industrialized nations for things like investment, technology, and manufactured goods.

Despite constitutional guarantees of equality, significant inequalities persisted in Latin America after independence. These included limited voting rights, widespread racial prejudice, and land ownership concentrated among a small elite.

Regionalism, where people prioritize their local area over the nation, weakened the new Latin American republics. This was exacerbated by the lack of infrastructure like roads, hindering unity.

Powerful local leaders, called caudillos, often gained power through private armies and challenged central governments. They prioritized their own interests, leading to instability and dictatorial rule.

The ruling elite in Latin America, much like in Europe, split into conservatives and liberals. Conservatives favored traditional structures, censorship, and Church authority. Liberals supported free markets, religious tolerance, and education.

Colonial mercantilist policies made Latin America reliant on Spain and Portugal. Raw materials were exported, and manufactured goods were imported, keeping the region economically dependent.

Even after independence, Latin American nations remained economically dependent. They traded raw materials for manufactured goods, leading to unequal relationships with developed countries.

Economic dependence occurs when developing nations export raw materials to industrialized nations and import manufactured goods, capital, and technology. This creates an uneven relationship.

The unequal relationship of economic dependence allows industrialized nations to influence prices and trade terms, further benefiting themselves and limiting the growth of developing nations.

Foreign companies sought to secure large profits from Latin American markets in the 19th century, leading to increased foreign influence and potential economic dominance.

Foreign investment in Latin America during the 19th century brought about development in mining, agriculture, and infrastructure.

The unequal distribution of wealth during Latin America's economic growth period, with a small elite benefiting while the majority of the population remained in poverty, is known as trickle-down economics.

Mexico's political landscape during the 19th century was characterized by instability due to power struggles between Conservative and Liberal factions, leading to revolts and dictatorships.

Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, a cunning political figure in Mexico, both supported and suppressed reform efforts, ultimately contributing to the country's instability.

The Texas Revolution was ignited by discontent among American settlers and some Mexicans in Texas who opposed Mexican rule, leading to a fight for independence.

The Texas Revolution was sparked by resentment among American settlers and some Mexicans in Texas who opposed Mexican rule, striving for independence.

The Texas Revolution, driven by the desire for independence from Mexico, ultimately resulted in Texas declaring itself a republic.

Mexican reform movement led by Benito Juárez in the mid-19th century, aiming to separate church and state, limit military power, and redistribute land.

Zapotec Indian who became President of Mexico and led the La Reforma movement, fighting for social justice and against conservative forces.

Mexican president and dictator who ruled from 1876 to 1911, known for economic growth through foreign investment and a repressive regime.

A political ideology emphasizing order and progress, often used to justify authoritarian rule and rapid economic development.

Mexican people of all classes revolted against the government led by Porfirio Diaz, seeking a more equitable society. This was a response to the inequality and poverty experienced by many Mexicans.

The US's position that European countries could not colonize any new territories in the Americas. This policy was initially meant to be neutral, but soon became a cornerstone of US foreign policy.

The U.S. acquired territories that belonged to Mexico, including California and parts of the Southwest, after winning the Mexican-American War. It also helped intensify the idea of Manifest Destiny.

A key turning point for the US's relationship with Latin America, it demonstrated the US's rising power and its willingness to use military force to achieve its aims.

Latin American nations felt threatened by the US's growing power due to its influence on other countries.

A phrase describing the sentiment that the US had a destiny to expand its territory westward across North America. Used to justify wars and territorial acquisitions.

Latin American nations admired the US initially, seeing it as a model of democracy. However, this changed as they felt the US's growing economic and political pressure.

It established the US's role as a dominant power in the Western Hemisphere and its influence over the region would continue to grow throughout the 20th Century

The Platt Amendment, added to the Cuban Constitution in 1901, gave the United States the right to intervene in Cuban affairs and establish naval bases on the island. This marked the beginning of U.S. involvement in Cuban politics and affairs.

The Roosevelt Corollary, issued in 1904, announced the United States' intention to act as the 'police power' in the Western Hemisphere, intervening in Latin American countries to protect American investments and interests. It was used to justify U.S. military interventions in the region.

A major engineering project that greatly reduced trade costs and shipping time between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The United States built and controlled the Panama Canal, significantly impacting international trade and demonstrating its growing power.

Anti-Americanism in Latin America rose in the early 1900s due to perceived "Yankee imperialism," the perception that the United States was using its power to dominate and exploit the region. The United States' political and economic interventions, such as the Platt Amendment and building the Panama Canal, fueled this resentment.

In the early 1900s, the United States invested heavily in Latin America, citing the need to protect these investments as justification for intervening in various countries. The United States used its military power to maintain order and safeguard its economic interests, leading to resentment and anti-American sentiment in the region.