Interpreting Progress and Transformations in Latin America through a Journalist’s Perspective

Summary of Spanish America and Brazil's struggle for independence

Task:

For this discussion, assume the role of a journalist, or someone else writing a letter of the time covering national (and global) events throughout Latin America. From your perspective, you will be witness to a major event, theme, or historical figure(s), or multiple. Since the chapter is titled Progress, how do you as a journalist interpret this phenomenon. You are expected to discuss cultural changes and shifts documented in the chapter. Have they changed based on the information from the previous chapters. How are people identifying with country, race, gender, identity, etc. You will be graded on the amount of details and the quality of the writing that corresponds to answering the questions. Please be sure to incorporate at least 3 key terms from the chapter in your journal entry. This Online Discussion allows you to get creative, while at the same time answering the question below, including your own insight, and engaging with the chapter. Continue to cite throughout your reporting as you have done previously (Chasteen 36).
 
The title of the chapter is "Progress,” what do you think this entails and in what context? Progress for whom and why? What other important manifestations are transforming the Latin American landscape during this time period.

I am pleased to announce that I will finally be returning to Britain after spending six years traveling throughout the Americas. For those who are not aware of my expedition, I have been reporting my findings through a series of letters. As most know, the "Americans" have fought for their independence from Spain and Portugal since the early 1800's. Now that the war is coming to an end, I will like to summarize the series of events that first led to Spanish America's struggle for independence.
Colonial rule was very much stable for 300 years, where Spain controlled Mexico and parts of South America, and Portugal mainly controlled Brazil. Their power rested on a caste system that had Peninsulars and Creoles fighting at the top, while African and indigenous people remained at the bottom. It was not until the unexpected "imperial collapse" (Chasteen Pg 95), that gave Spanish America and Brazil an opportunity to gain independence and create their own constitutional republics. Spain's colonial control began to fall when King Carlos IV went into bankruptcy in late 1700's. At the same time, Spain American ships and ports were constantly being attacked by the English causing trade to decrease. Above all, "Britannia ruled the waves" (Chasteen Pg 98), therefore Spain could not compete with us. The start of the French revolution and the Napoleonic wars (1799-1815) did not make things any better for Spain, especially because Napoleon Bonaparte imprisoned their king. The Enlightenment changed people's mentalities on monarchies, so people were beginning to support popular sovereignty, "meaning that the people of each nation (not yet women, however) had the right to determine who would rule them according to a written constitution"(Chasteen Pg 98). This kind of mindset was similar to the idea of nativism and liberalism of rising patriots and revolutionaries in Spanish America.

While Europe was going through its own war, Spanish America began their own battles. As I mentioned before, the Peninsulars (Spanish born) and Creoles (Spanish American born) were fighting for control. In the eyes of the African, indigenous or mixed people, they were all the same, so when they launched their fight for independence both Peninsulars and Creoles were targeted. At first it was difficult for patriots to have enough people to overthrow the Spanish, but with the rise of a key strategy known as nativism, the patriots were able to create a purpose for their battle. They created an identity that people from various backgrounds could share, "Americanos" (Chasteen Pg 107). It was the idea of liberty, equality, and popular sovereignty that led the patriots to several victories (Chasteen Pg 127). This reminds me of a similar case that happen with Great Britain, when the thirteen colonies sought out independence from us. Although it was a loss for us, we cannot help but admire their success. Will the new nations create a democracy and put an end to slavery for good? Or was their battle for independence the beginning of new problems? It is too early to make a prediction, but we can only hope for a better turn of events.