Most people were engaged in agriculture as in the U.S. in 1820. They
farmed to feed and clothe themselves; in other words, they engaged in
subsistence agriculture. Most people did not own land. The land was
owned by a few, such as hacendados or the Roman Catholic Church.
There
were export sectors in economies. Exports were of two basic kinds:
agricultural and mineral. Argentina and Uruguay exported cattle hides
and salted beef. Bolivia exported silver and mercury; Peru: silver and,
later, guano; Colombia: precious metals and sugar; Brazil: sugar and,
later, coffee; and Mexico: silver, gold, and cotton. Most of these
exports went to Europe. Little went to each other. None of it in huge
volumes even in Argentina until the late 19th century. The countries
lacked capital, communications networks, and technology to develop the
export business. Besides, the upper class was able to meet its needs
without much economic expansion. Societies were run for the benefit of
the upper classes.
