Question

After gaining independence from Spain and Portugal, many Latin American nations have faced similar struggles. Choose a common issue discussed in this lesson, such as the influence of military dictatorships, struggles with democracy, or continuing revolutions and coups. In a short paragraph, discuss how that struggle has affected two Latin American nations.

Answer 1

We have two good examples in the history of Mexico and Venezuela.

After the Mexican Independence in 1821, the country lived very tumultuous and chaotic times, President Benito Juarez “Laws of Reforms” tried to give the country some stability. After the war with France in 1862, Porfirio Díaz became the President of Mexico and stay 33 years of dictatorship. Those years of suppression generated the Mexican Revolution from 1910 to 1917.

A similar case we find in Venezuela. Simon Bolivar, a great man that fight for the independence from the Spanish in South America. He wanted to create a union of states but faced heavy internal opposition. Bolívar declared himself dictator in 1828.

Today, we see the difficulties the region is living, with the awful case of the economic crisis in Venezuela, and some other countries of the region like Bolivia.

Answer 2

A good example of the common problems among South American countries soon after independence is the economic crisis that occurred in Brazil and Argentina.

On July 9, 1816, Argentina became independent. Due to the demand for provincial autonomy made by the federalists of the interior, and the opposition to this autonomy of the Unitarians of Buenos Aires, after the independence began the civil war. Only in 1853 did the Unitarians succeed in promulgating the First Constitution of Argentina. The Argentine civil war created a huge economic crisis that made it very difficult to establish the country as a sovereign nation. The effects of this crisis are seen to this day, and bring the suffering of many Argentines.

Brazil also experienced a severe economic crisis after becoming independent from Portugal. Unlike Argentina, the Brazilian economic crisis was not caused by a war but because Brazil, to become independent, had to bear the debts that Portugal had with England. Brazil became independent under the sign of stagnation. Before and after 1822, the scenario of crisis, poverty, and business downturn became dominant in national life.

At the political level, unlike in other South American countries, where the breakdown of colonial relations took place through bitter military confrontations, Brazil's political sovereignty resulted from a complex chain of negotiations involving Portugal and England. The purpose of the negotiations was the huge debt payments that Portugal had with the British crown.