Advent of New Actors in the Twentieth Century
I. The USA becomes the major power in the region
A. Motivations
1. USA driven primarily by security needs and trade
2. Officially disavowed imperialism, but became heavily involved, particularly in Central America and Caribbean
3. Particularly concerned with protecting access to Panama Canal
B. Monroe Doctrine
1. Proclaimed by President Monroe in 1823
a. No new European colonies
b. No transfer of colonies from one European power to another
2. USA in no position to enforce it in 19th century
3. Effectively enforced by British in 19th
4. Latin America never endorsed it
5. USA's seizure of Mexican territory in 1840s scared Latin American governments
6. British effectively checked U.S. expansion in 19th century
C. Post 1898 expansion
1. USA recognized wealth of Latin America
2. Many in USA saw Latins as slow, lazy, racially inferior
3. USA believed that American know-how, Protestant virtues required for Latin America to realize potential
4. Victory over Spanish in 1898 Spanish-American War set stage for USA to become major power in Latin America
D. Intervention
1. In 1898-1934 period, USA intervened directly and/or invaded: Cuba, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Colombia, Haiti, Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico
2. Intervened to keep Europe out; protect canal and canal routes (Panama, Nicaragua)
II. The Middle Class
A. Population in Latin America grows dramatically in late 19th, early 20th century
B. Growth brings increasing diversity
C. Middle class big enough by early 20th to have an impact on: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, Mexico, Costa Rica
D. Less pronounced in other countries, though growing in many
E. Characteristics of emerging early 20th century middle class
1. Employed largely in commerce, banking, industry (later in government)
2. Foreign immigrants disproportionately represented
3. largely urban
4. above-average education
5. widely separated from both elites and impoverished masses in terms of income levels
6. Politically mixed, but generally favored modernization
1. active in creating political parties
2. strongly nationalistic
3. reformist, generally making alliances with elites, not poor
7. Wanted to be more like USA, but resented USA's power
III. Industrial Working Class and Unions
A. Like middle class, heavily immigrant in origin, tied to modern economy
B. Early Unionization
1. Unions first appear in 1850s
2. evolved from mutual aid societies
3. these early groups were small, ephemeral and local
4. Typesetters, stevedores, railroad workers, miners and textile workers among first to unionize
5. By 1914, large, well-organized unions exist in about six nations
C. Post WWI expansion (1914-1940)
1. Developed national multi-union organizations
2. Incorporated rural workers
3. Mounting militancy, particularly during post WWI and 1929 economic crises
4. Initially allied with middle classes, but that tended to break down as middle classes gained power