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