Deck 26: Latin America From Independence to the 1940s

Question 1

Dependency theory was developed to explain (Global Perspective, pp. 642-643)

A) persistent poverty in Latin America since the nineteenth century.
B) the status of Native Americans in Latin America.
C) the extension of democratic institutions in Latin American countries.
D) the influence of men over women in Latin American culture.

Answer 1

persistent poverty in Latin America since the nineteenth century.

Question 2

After the wars of independence in the mid-1820s, Latin American countries were still

A) legally colonies of European states.
B) economically dependent on a capitalist world system.
C) socially dependent on welfare state funding.
D) lacking in native cultural elements.

Answer 2

economically dependent on a capitalist world system.

Question 3

The United Provinces of La Plata included parts of which modern-day countries? (Map 26-1, p. 644)

A) Argentina and Uruguay
B) Brazil and Surinam
C) Paraguay and Venezuela
D) Argentina and Chile

Answer 3

Argentina and Uruguay

Question 4

The caudillos who tended to dominate the political scene in nineteenth- and twentieth-century Latin America were

A) republican leaders who promoted liberal legal and economic reforms.
B) strong, often oppressive leaders with ties to the military.
C) fiery nationalist leaders who supported breaking ties with Western powers.
D) leaders of the movement for the rights of Native Americans, including land redistribution.

Question 5

What are the three major reasons that historians have put forth as to why Latin America has developed differently from other parts of the West? Which of these arguments do you find most convincing and why?
Conceptual

Question 6

How did Latin America develop political independence from colonial powers without revolution? What was the role of the creole elite in this process? Why was there not a fundamental revolution in the area until 1910? What was the role of the Roman Catholic Church in the process of revolution in Latin America?
Conceptual

Question 7

Who were the primary originators of the wars of independence in Latin America? How did this fact shape Latin American societies after independence?
Conceptual

Question 8

How did the landowners of Latin America retain their respective control after the independence movement? What was the importance of "scientific" racism in this process? How were the British important in developing certain economies that supported the landowning elite?
Conceptual

Question 9

What is "an economy of dependence"? Why did Latin American nations tend to develop such economies? How did that development affect their political and social development?
Conceptual

Question 10

What were the major commodities exported from Latin America after 1850? How did European nations affect the local economies? What was the role of foreign investment and how did this development alter economic structures in the region?
Conceptual

Question 11

Describe the political development from independence to 1945 of two of the following three countries: Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico. How were they similar and how did they differ? Why was Mexico unique in its political development?
Conceptual

Question 12

In what ways was Perónism different from the ideology of many other authoritarian regimes?
Conceptual

Question 13

What are the issues that have historically shaped the relationship between Mexico and the United States? How, if at all, has that relationship changed in recent decades?
Conceptual

Question 14

Why did industrialization not develop in Latin America as it did in Europe and in the United States? What role did the price of land play in this process? Why was foreign capital not used to build an industrial base in any of the countries?
Conceptual

Question 15

What effect did World War I have on the major countries of South America? What changes did the respective countries make to their governments and their economies following World War I? Overall, do you think that the war had a largely positive or negative impact in South America?
Conceptual

Question 16

What are the major paradoxes of Latin American history? Do the explanations offered in the text appear to be appropriate to the historic conditions of the area? Are there other possible explanations? Why?
Conceptual

Question 17

Detail and explain the causes and events of the Mexican Revolution. How did race, economics, and religion influence the revolution? What leaders were successful and why? Were there any parallels to the war against Maximilian? How did the war affect American-Mexican relations? Detail the resulting political situation after the conflict. What changed and what remained the same?
Conceptual

Question 18

Why was the emancipation of the slaves delayed until 1888 in Brazil? What role did the slave trade have on the overall economic structure of the country? After emancipation, did the economic structure change to a great degree?
Conceptual

Question 19

How did Latin American elites justify the exploitation of mestizos, Indians, and blacks? What are the ideological foundations of this exploitation? What was the role of liberalism and positivism in developing policies designed to keep nonwhites under social and economic submission?
Conceptual

Question 20

What is the role of the military in Argentine politics? Did the role of the military change from the nineteenth century to the twentieth century? What motivated army officers to intervene in politics? What effect did army intervention have upon Argentine democracy?
Conceptual

Question 21

Compare and contrast the governments of Vargas and Perón. Were there ideological similarities between the two leaders? Did similar circumstances propel them to power? How successful were they?
Conceptual

Question 22

Discuss Joaquim Nabuco's arguments against slavery. Are his beliefs based on religion, ideological conviction, or practicality?
Conceptual

Question 23

Describe the relationship between Latin America and the United States. What are the positive or negative aspects of U.S. intervention in Latin American countries? Was the relationship exploitative in nature?
Conceptual