Notes for July 22 part 2

1800s Latin America

The Spanish Empire was weak and too far from its large colonies to control them.
Independence movements sprang up throughout Latin America
Simon Bolivar:
Revolutionary leader in South America
Used English troops and local troops to fight off the Spanish
Conquered and occupied Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia

Revolutions

Mexico:
At this point, France controlled the Spanish throne. News of this led to revolts against the old government by politicians and the public
Manuel Hidalgo y Costilla and Jose Maria Morelos, two priests, led a revolution of poor, native farmers against the Spanish elite. Both were executed
In 1862, France invaded Mexico. President Benito Juarez organized a popular resistance to return him to office

Brazil:

France controlled the Spanish throne, and Portugal feared they would be next
King John VI left behind his son Pedro as regent
Pedro declared Brazilian independence and attempted to create a constitutional monarchy
What made revolution successful?
Weakened, distant government
Spain lost almost all of its colonies by 1900
Support of the lower classes
International pressures on colonial powers
--Wars
--Occupations
--Internal revolutions
Strong, charismatic leadership
--Washington
--Toussaint
--Hidalgo
A turbulent economy
Depression, famine, unemployment, poverty

Slave Trade Ends

Haiti's slave revolt led to others that didn't succeed
International abolition movements turned Europe away from slavery, leading to more “legitimate” trade with African nations
Palm-oil trade made West coast exporters wealthy
Ivory trade flourished on East coast using Indian investment and European guns
Recaptives returned to Sierra Leone (Britain) and Liberia (US)

Britain's Eastern Empire

Britain's Asian colonies encompass several themes:
Dominance
Britain overtook the Dutch in Java and most of SE Asia
Britain defeated the French in several wars and in trade competition
Flexibility
Reeling from the American Revolution, Britain gave more autonomy to colonies to prevent uprisings
“Secondary Empires”: Britain supplied the guns and bought the goods, but might not control the empire directly
Newer colonies were allowed to set up their own governments

Immigration

Afrikaners fought the Zulus and started farms
Colonization of Australia and New Zealand with penal colonies and contracts of indenture
Chinese and Indians moved to the Caribbean to take the place of slaves
Shipping
Clipper ships made shipping faster and immigration easier
Colonies bought manufactured goods from England in exchange for raw materials such as palm-oil (West Africa) and cotton (India)