Latin American Nationalism Social Studies for 9 th E.G.B. | Teacher: Mauricio Torres
Latin American Nationalism
Social Studies for 9th E.G.B. | Teacher: Mauricio Torres
Introduction
The Mexican Revolution reflected a growing spirit of nationalism throughout Latin America.
This focused on ending economic dependence on the industrial powers, especially the United States.
It echoed throughout political and cultural life as well.
Economic Nationalism
After WWI, the demand for raw materials produced by Latin American countries dropped. The economies were dependent on export, so
they declined rapidly. The Great Depression was another damaging
factor in Latin American economy.
This led to desire to develop their own industries, so that it wouldn’t be necessary to buy products from other countries.
Locals set up factories and governments raised tariffs to protect the new industries.
Still, unequal distribution of wealth was still holding back full development.
Political Nationalism
The Great Depression triggered political changes in Latin America.
People were losing faith in liberal governments.
Because of this, they sought stronger, authoritarian governments. They hoped they would control, direct and protect each country’s
economy.
Cultural Nationalism
By the 1920s, Latin American writers, artists and thinkers began to reject European influences in culture as well.
An example was Mexico’s pride in their own culture: the revival of mural paintings; a major art form of the Aztecs and Mayas.
U.S. and Latin America
Between WWI and the Great Depression, U.S. investment soared.
The U.S. continue to play “international policeman”, intervening whenever it saw its interests threatened.
The U.S. invaded or sent to troops to the following countries in the early 20th century: Mexico, Nicaragua, Haiti, Cuba…
In the 1930s, Roosevelt instated the “Good Neighbor Policy”, pledging to lessen U.S. interference in Latin American affairs.
Critical Thinking
“I was born landless
Yes its tha native son
Born of Zapata’s guns
Stroll through the shanties
And tha cities remains
Same bodies buried hungry
But with different last names
The vultures robbin everything
Leave nothing but chains”
Read the following lyrics from the song “Calm like a Bomb”.
Do they give a slight hint of Latin American
suffering and pride?
Why?
Vocabulary
Tariffs.- taxes on imports.
Liberalism.- belief in the individual and in limited government.
Mural.- any piece of artwork painted or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other large permanent surface. U.S. ships in Veracruz, Mexico. 1916
Bibliography
Ellis, E. G., & Esler, A. (2009). World History. (P. Hall, Ed.) Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, US: Pearson Education INC.
Images taken from www.google.com