HISTORY

HISTORY

Introduction

Latin American culture is one of the oldest cultural forms for the indigenous population before 1450. The arrival of the Europeans changed the perspectives of Latin American land, and it continued to evolve since then. The study will explore the history of Latin Americans after the European colonialism of the fifteenth century. The Latin American region was in the control of Portugal and Spain, which expanded the catholic culture among the native Latin Americans. The Latin American region got independence from the European colonial rule in the early nineteenth century, which paved the way for the socio-political development of Latin culture. The entire discussion will revolve around from the fifteenth-century colonial rule to twentieth-century free Latin-American culture. The change and consistency in the life of Latin Americans will be analyzed in the study.

Analysis

Major expeditions were conducted to discover the USA in the second half of the twentieth century. Spanish and Portuguese expeditions started living in Latin America in the initial part of the sixteenth century. One of the major changes witnessed in this was religious change. The Portuguese and Spanish people started converting the native Latin American people into catholic religion (Coronil and Fernando. 175). The native population suddenly became the victim of various diseases like smallpox and measles after the colonial establishment. Soon, most of the native Latin Americans died of malnutrition. The latter part of the sixteenth century became horrible for the native Americans as the Portuguese and Spanish rulers imposed the legal charge of violence against the native Latin Americans. It made the colonial ruler more powerful than the native people and established their colonial power in the nations across Latin America. All other cultures except catholic culture was strictly prohibited which created an autocratic religious culture

The establishment of catholic culture forcefully demeaned all other existing religious cultures in Latin America. The Spanish and Portuguese autocratic rulers had the free license to grant and to reduce travelers who are willing to register themselves as an immigrant(Coronil and Fernando. 175). They only welcomed the catholic people, and all other religious people like Jews and crypto-Jews were not allowed to perform their religious activities in the Latin American region. The vulgarity of catholic people in the sixteenth century Latin America declined the moral structure of Latin American society during the seventeenth century.

The seventeenth-century Latin American society can be considered as the darkest hour of the region as superstition, and superstitious activities became very common in entire Latin America, which devasted the morality of the society. The people of Latin America started believing witchcraft, divination, and apostasy (Sadowski-Smith et al. 321). The popes and clergies started ruling society. Churches became the centers for both primary and higher education in Latin America. The autocratic structure of the society during the colonial rule to change after the French and USA revolution in the final part of the eighteenth century.

The USA and the French revolution showed a pathway of freedom to the people of Latin America. The situation started changing in the countries of Latin American countries with the light of education, independence, and eagerness to get freedom. The people of Latin American countries started fighting for independence. Most of the Latin American countries became independent within 1825(Sadowski-Smith et al. 321). A mixed culture started ruling the society of Latin American countries like Brazil, Argentina, and Chile. A completely new market was created in Latin countries. Foreign investment and industrialization started expanding in the nations of Latin America. However, the elite society of Latin American countries started adopting the European model of industrialization. The catholic culture becomes trendy among the elite business class of Latin Americansimmigrant (Coronil and Fernando. 175). Countries like Gran Colombia and the united provinces of South America were still engaged in domestic conflicts. On the contrary, Brazil established itself as a united monarchy avoiding all the conflicts, Hispanic culture, and civil war.

The fight between federalists and centrists created political turmoil in most of the Latin countries in the second half of the nineteenth century. Cultural diversity became a common feature in most of the Latin countries. A blend of catholic and old Latin culture created a new form of socio-economic and religious structure in Latin America. 1860 to 1890 witnessed the development of nationality among the Latin Americans countries were separated from each other with loosely connected borders, which resulted in the Paraguay war (1864-70) and war of pacific (1879-84)(Sadowski-Smith et al. 321). Paraguay witnessed a democratic decline in 1864. Moreover, countries like Bolivia, Chile, and Peru were involved in the various war. The aggressive political strategy of the USA helped to restrict the war-like situation in the final decade of the nineteenth century (Coronil and Fernando. 175). The political calmness in the Latin American countries helped to improve the economic and industrial structure.

The economic and industrial structure was based on natural resources as the countries were rich with resources. The exporting of natural resources and dealing in the natural resources within the national trade barrier started developing the industrial and economic structure of the nations. For example,- more than 80% of the land of Brazil was occupied with natural resources as in 1910(Coronil and Fernando. 175). It helped to develop the countries as a wealthy elite class. Gold mining and fruit growing were significant parts of business culture. Businesses were individually owned instead of private limited or collective ownership. Thus, owners ruled all the activities at the gold mining area and provided wages to the labors who worked in mining areas. It created a clear distinction between the working-class and elite class, which became a significant reason for political activities during the 1910-20s decade(Sadowski-Smith et al. 321).

The political instability in Latin American countries started after the Europeans left. The Big stick doctrine of Roosevelt led the European to intervene in the hemisphere region, which resulted in various war and turmoil like the Spanish-American war(Sadowski-Smith et al. 321). The presidential portfolio in Mexico can be identified as a significant example of political imbalance. Apart from that, the socialist revolution of Russia in 1917 and the defeat of the federal army in 1911 made changes in the foreign policies of Latin American nations. The moderate reforms of Maderto in 1911 established a steady democratic rule in Mexico. However, there was still differentiation in opinion regarding the establishment of democratic rules. Late, the assassination of Villa in 1923 brought back peace and ultimate democracy in Mexico(Coronil and Fernando. 175). The establishment of democracy in Mexico encouraged other countries to develop a liberal constitution allowing equal rights for all the population irrespective of their socio-cultural orientations. The Latin American countries started indulging in international politics among themselves. Various sporting activities were conducted among the nations to improve global relations (Ocampo and Jose Antonio. 88).

Sports became a great event for the nations to improve relationships with one another. The Olympic committee arranged Olympic ideals in 1921. The Latin American games competition was arranged in the very next year. The Summer Olympics 1924 and 1928 witnessed great participation from Latin American participants(Ocampo and Jose Antonio. 88). Later, the second world war shook the political environment of Latin American countries again.

The economic depression affected the Latin American countries right before the second world war. The good neighbor policy of Roosevelt helped to improve the inert relation among the Latins. The countries witnessed economic inflation during the second world war. The expansion of communism after the second world war improved the socio-economic situation(Ocampo and Jose Antonio. 88). The equity in social structure and wealth distribution became politically integrated with the Latin American countries. Communism defeated the long-cherished capitalist culture in the nations.

The late 70s witnessed the collaboration of leftism and communism across Latin America to create a classless society. On the other hand, various global financial institutions and trade organizations like the World Trade Organization changed the socio-economic culture with a positive outlook(Coronil and Fernando. 175).

Currently, most of the Latin nations are under communist rule. The decentralization of power and equal distribution of wealth are significant themes in the Latin countries(Ocampo and Jose Antonio. 88).

Conclusion

The entire study has discussed the socio-political evaluation of Latin American countries and culture. It witnessed both colonial culture and independent culture. Most of the countries were fighting to settle their respective boundaries. Hence, the emphasis on the importance of global relations reduced the war culture. Democracy was established in the nations. The second of the twentieth century witnessed the rise of communism, and currently, most of the Latin America nations are communist-dominated. An analysis of the socio-political history of Latin America has opened up an opportunity to understand the socio-political evaluation and turmoil in the nations.

Reference List

Coronil, Fernando. “11 Latin American postcolonial studies and global decolonization.” Postcolonial Studies: An Anthology (2015): 175.

Ocampo, Jose Antonio. “The Latin American debt crisis in historical perspective.” Life after Debt. Palgrave Macmillan, London, 2014. 87-115.

Sadowski-Smith, Claudia, and Claire F. Fox. “Theorizing the Hemisphere: Inter-Americas Work at the Intersection of American, Canadian, and Latin American Studies1.” The International Turn in American Studies (2015): 321.