latin american “ caudillismo ”

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LATIN AMERICAN “CAUDILLISMO” IB Americas Ryan Davidson The American School Foundation, Mexico City 2009

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Latin American “ Caudillismo ”. IB Americas Ryan Davidson The American School Foundation, Mexico City 2009. So independence…yeah…about that…. Liberals and revolutionaries sought to strip the church of its immense power and supplant the state/individual with the power of the church - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: Latin American  “ Caudillismo ”

LATIN AMERICAN “CAUDILLISMO”

IB Americas Ryan Davidson

The American School Foundation, Mexico City

2009

Page 2: Latin American  “ Caudillismo ”

So independence…yeah…about that…

Liberals and revolutionaries sought to strip the church of its immense power and supplant the state/individual with the power of the church

They insisted on: - civil cemeteries and civil wedding ceremonies - public schools to teach republican virtues - free speech - individualism - seeking to end slavery and Indian tributes Church leaders (conservatives) thought these

reformers were deranged and unstable—battle lines drawn between good and evil

Page 3: Latin American  “ Caudillismo ”

Constitutions new on the scene since monarchical system involved centuries of teaching “divine” sanction

High turnover in constitutions which caused much confusion in early to mid 180ss

Some places offered individual ownership of previously communal lands to the indians

This backfired as whites and mestizos took advantage of the protection vacuum this created

Some countries even eliminated the tribute that indigenous populations paid

This caused problems as Bolivia and Peru had to restore it in the 1820s for government revenue

Page 4: Latin American  “ Caudillismo ”

Result? Reaction? Caudillos – best described as a Latin

American dictator Some say Simon Bolivar and his style

introduced “caudillismo”

Page 5: Latin American  “ Caudillismo ”

Portrait of a caudillo Personalismo- ruling by the force of

personality Military- typically some kind of

background whether official general or guerilla chief

Criollo/Mestizo- from old landed aristocracy or gaining power rising through military ranks

Patron- many coming from environment of the hacienda system (though not necessarily as the landowner) where they were accustomed to large amounts of power and dispensed favors and justice in a patriarchal way

Page 6: Latin American  “ Caudillismo ”

How did they rule:

Wealth seeking-sometimes acquiring it in subtle ways, other times stripping it from others (see Facundo Quiroga)

Favor trading- entire families supported a caudillo in exchange for positions, exclusive contracts, and monopolies on imports (enforced by caudillo strength)

Propaganda- monuments constructed, rallies and parades held, extravagant uniforms and military displays

Caudillo?

Page 7: Latin American  “ Caudillismo ”

“The generals [and early caudillos] imposed arbitrary limits upon the peoples: they were the creators of the history of the Americas; they impressed the crowds with pomp and pageantry, by military displays as brilliant and gaudy as the processions of the Roman Catholic Church, by uniforms, medals, and military order. They labeled themselves Regenerators, Restorers,Protectors…” - Francisco Garcia Calderon (1883-1953), Peruvian historian

Page 8: Latin American  “ Caudillismo ”

“One word sums up the aggressiveness, insensitivity, invulnerability, and other attributes of the macho: power. It is force without the discipline of any notion of order: arbitrary power, the will without reins and without a set course” –Octavio Paz

Page 9: Latin American  “ Caudillismo ”

“The landowner wanted labor, loyalty, and service in peace and war. The peon wanted subsistence and security. The estanciero therefore was a protector, possessor of sufficient power to defend his dependents against marauding bands, recruiting sergeants, and rival hordes. He is also a provider, who developed and defended local resources, and could give employment, food, and shelter…And these individual alliances were extended into a social pyramid, as patrons in turn became clients to more powerful men, until the peak of power was reached and all became clients of a super-patron, the caudillo.” -John Lynch, Rosas

Page 10: Latin American  “ Caudillismo ”

Caudillo

Landowner 1 Landowner 2Landowner 3

Peon 1 Peon 2 Peon 3 Peon 4 Peon 5 Peon 6 Peon 7 Peon 8 Peon 9

Peon 10….

Page 11: Latin American  “ Caudillismo ”

Time out… Check for understanding: 1) What did post-independence Liberals

want? 2) What did Caudillos want? 3) Were Caudillos liberal or

conservative? 4) Who would support Caudillos? Where? 5) Why would they give this loyalty?

Ok…let’s look at a prime example…

Page 12: Latin American  “ Caudillismo ”

Argentina Argentina independence came in 1816 Until 1829, centralists tried to unite the new nation from Buenos Aires while people to the interior of the country wished to govern themselves in a loose federation of provinces *sound familiar?* Experienced a series of presidents and congresses between independence and 1829 while losing large sections of territory and

fighting a war with Brazil

Page 13: Latin American  “ Caudillismo ”

Bernardo Rivadavia (Liberal)

A father of Argentine independ- ence and president from 1826-1827 Believed in foreign contact, investment, free trade, and immigration Promoted intellectual development

supporting the founding of the University of

Buenos Aires Sought to separate church from state

Page 14: Latin American  “ Caudillismo ”

Enter Juan Manuel de Rosas:

Not an independence hero like other caudillos An estancia owner from the interior in gaucho territory Had his own troops whom he protected and rewarded in return for service—in 1820 even fought the capital’s authority with his small army Rosas rose to power in the late 1820s, as the

large conservative elements in Argentina were suspicious of foreigners, Rivadavia’s centralizing Constitution of 1826, and liberal changes involving the Church and society

Page 15: Latin American  “ Caudillismo ”

Rosas’s Rule By 1835 Rosas had fought his way to the top by

consolidating power and loyalty Ruled from Buenos Aires but allowed interior autonomy as

far as it was convenient for him (and not allowing other rival Caudillos too much power there)

Pressed for conquering of Indian lands which were then sold at low prices to estancieros

“As you know, the dispossessed (poor) are always inclined to rise against the rich and powerful. So…I thought it important to gain a decisive influence over this class in order to control and direct it.” – Rosas in a letter

Enforced labor discipline on estancias through strict punishment and torture

Recalled the Jesuits from exile and returned educational system to them

Page 16: Latin American  “ Caudillismo ”

Used both written and parade propaganda His wife Encarnacion Ezcurra was a public figure (somewhat like Eva Peron) who rallied support for Rosas He separated the world into rosistas and anti-rosistas and terrorized those who

didn’t support him Constantly trying to gain control of politics

in Uruguay, fighting with Brazilian neighbors, and dealing with British and French blockades of Buenos Aires as reprisal for his tariffs and mistreatment of English and French citizens living in Argentina

Page 17: Latin American  “ Caudillismo ”

Eliminated elements of free press Wanted to limit immigration Arbitrary arrests of opponents Violence and executions reached a peak

in 1838-1842 and were carried out by a secret society called the Mazorca

Need a Bill of Rights?!Question: Why would conservatives (wealthy elites and church) support the rule of Rosas?

Page 18: Latin American  “ Caudillismo ”

Even Caudillos fall sometimes…especially when they’ve made many enemies

While controlling Buenos Aires with a strong fist, still faced opposition from other caudillos like Justo Jose de Urquiza who overthrew him in 1852

Urquiza was helped by a coalition of anti-Rosista interests including exiles from abroad, Uruguayans, British, French, and new immigrant businessmen—also pushed for reform by traditional farmers experiencing decline in the beef industry

Ironically Rosas fled to England where he lived as a country gentleman until his death in 1877

Page 19: Latin American  “ Caudillismo ”

Reading Excerpt… Read through these two pages describing

Charles Darwin’s (yes…the same guy) visit with Rosas’s men in Argentina

*may give you chills*

Page 20: Latin American  “ Caudillismo ”

What’s wrong with Caudillos?

So if Caudillos provided order and stability, AND provided food, shelter, employment, protection for people under them…what’s the problem?

Page 21: Latin American  “ Caudillismo ”

Thanks to… A History of Latin America by Keen and

Haynes A History of Modern Latin America by

Clayton and Conniff