continuity and change Flashcards
(36 cards)
William Walker
Native of Nashville, TN and becomes head of state. born May 1824 and studies at University of Nashville and graduates at age 14. He then moves to California and tries to obtain large amounts of land in Latin America. On october 15, 1853 Walker and 45 men declare land the Republic of Lower CA because it was cut off by the Mexican Government and there was no cultivation of the land. by 1854 Walker is driven out of lower CA and put on trial but was found not guilty. He then continues on in 1855 to obtain Nicaragua with 57 men (“the immortals”). by May 1856, Walker has control of Nicaragua and gets the US to recognize his govt. he tries to bring foreigners into the country by using incentives and takes presidency in 1856. at this time he is becoming less popular so he tries to appeal to the South by saying Nicaragua could be a slave trade. on May 1, 1857 walker is forced to surrender the the US Navy
Granada
one of the most important Spanish cities in Nicaragua, where conservatives are
Cornelius Vanderbilt
aka commidor Vanderbilt, first begins by trade on ships but then makes a fortune in railroads. He invests in Nicaragua in the 1850s and sets up a railroad and steamboat ships to ferry people across the San Juan River and Lake Nicaragua. Vanderbuilt refuses to pay his taxes to the conservative government, causing the liberals to become angry. in 1855, Liberal agents set out to find an agent to take over Nicaragua, so Walker and 57 men set out to take over the country.
Leon
one of the most important Spanish cities in Nicaragua, where most of the liberals are
filibusters
a free lance expedition in the mid 19th century where people try to obtain land in Mexico and Latin America
“The Immortals”
The 57 men Walker brings with him to take control of Nicaragua.
conservatives
the conservatives rule in Nicaragua until 1855 when liberals become angry because they are not enforcing their tax laws. The goals of the conservatives are to maintain social order and coustoms, maintain wealth of the church, have creole elites in charge and replace the king with someone else.
Liberals
take over Nicaragua lead by William Walker in 1856. Believe that elites must rule, guarantee new freedoms (e.g. freedom of speech, thought, religion), have elections and checks and balances, no special privileges to clergymen ext. and a free market system
caudillismo
the concept that a country is ruled by a strong man. Caudillos arise in Argentina due to the political unrest between the liberals and conservatives . they build patron/client networks, which in turn leads to corruption.
Juan Manuel Rosas
Rosas becomes powerful in the 1820s-1830s when he is elected governor in Buenos Aires. In 1833 he takes a group of gauchos to kill indians and leaves his wife behind to promote his cause. Many people then begin seeing Rosas as their savior. He becomes dictator in 1835 with the belief that he can bring the 2 parties of Agrentina together and restore order and forms La Mazorca (secret police). He is then driven from power in 1852 by Brazil and Uruguay and goes to South Hampton as a farmer
Benjamin Zeledon
Born in 1879, was a teacher, lawyer, military officer and part of Zelaya’s administration. He was then forced to go into exile with Zelaya because he was a former administrator of war. In 1912, Zeledo sets up a counter attack against the Nicaraguan army in 1912. it appears his army may win until the US marines arrive and he is the only rebel leader left. Zeledon was then killed by the US troops and his body was drug through the streets of Nicaragua
Monroe Doctrine
in 1823, president James Monroe adresses congress with the fear that Latin American countries that have just gained independence will be taken over again. the Monroe doctrine states that if any countries try to take the independence of Latin America, the US would intervene but would not mess with the existing colonies. Many believed the doctrine was only for national interest
roosevelt corollary
teddy roosevelt addresses the economic instability in latin america december 1904. he says the US holds the right to intervene in the newly independent countries. this is an extension of the monroe doctrine because it is the alternative to the european countries invading. this benefited some organizations because the price of bonds rose
dollar diplomacy
coined by Taft saying the US would back the loans of the latin american countries
Augusto Cesar Sandino
born in 1894, grew up poor with an extremely difficult life before his father takes him in at age 11. July 1927 Sandino writes a manifesto and tries to gather people together through manliness to drive the US marines out of Nicaragua. he then begins an insurgent war in 1927 against the US marines. Peace is then brokered in 1933 and a liberal is elected to lead Nicaragua
Anastasio “Tacho” Somoza
born in 1896 to a wealthy coffee plantation owner. he went to philadelphia for school and became an interpreter for the Americans and Nicaraguans before becoming the leader of the national guard. he maintains control of the guards by making them corrupt (controls gambling and prostitution). he then wins a rigged election in 1937 and rules Nicaragua for 2 decades. Tacho was good at manipulating the US because he supported their foreign policy and allowed them to have military bases in Nicaragua. He also exported and imported many goods to and from US. He is then killed by a Sandino supporter who believed he was avenging Sandino’s death in 1956.
good neighbor policy
Because Tacho was so good at manipulating the US, Roosevelt promotes the good neighbor policy that says no US marines will be sent to Latin America anymore. It signified a time of friendship. during the first decades of Tacho’s rule, the US is invading but then begins to support a corrupt government
FSLN
Sandinista Front for National Liberation. After Tacho dies, his sons become his successors. After the oldest son dies of a heart attack, Tachito takes control of the Nicaraguan government and runs the country as a police state. Corruption occurs because he takes much of the foreign aid coming into the country for his own benefit. Because of this, the FSLN wants to topple the reign of the Somoza’s. In august 1978, the guerrillas show up dressed as guards and take the congress hostage for 500,000 dollars. In 1979, Tachito looses all support of the people so the FSLN takes over the govt
Iran-Contra Scandal
on November 2, 1986, The American government was found to be secretly selling weapons to Iran for the release of prisoners. Ronald Reagan is forced to confront the allegations and says he wanted to end the pursan gulf war and form a relationship with Iran. 12 days after this, the payments were diverted to overthrow the Nicaraguan government
Haitian Massacre
In October 1937, Trujillo, the ruler of the dominican republic makes an announcement stating he was going to solve the “haitian problem.” the haitian massacre goes on for 1 week and 10000-20000 haitians were killed. if people said “perejil” with a haitian accent, they were killed. Many of the people that were killed were actually dominican but born to haitian parents. the Anti-haitianism causing this began when the dominican became a slave society due to sugar and the spanish sign a treaty abandoning them to the french who use the dominican as a base to try and take back haiti.
Jean-Jaques Dessaline
born in 1778, first ruler of Haiti who becomes emperor in 1805. He then invades dominica in 1801 and 1805 and ransacks many of their cities on the way out of the country
Castas
the caste system in the dominican determined by different racial categories based on the concept of whitening skin color
Rafael Trujillo
born in 1891 to poor mulatto parents. recruited by marines to be a part of the national guard and becomes the head of the national guard by the late 1920s. he then takes over the dominican using a coup and a hurricane. He seizes power and rules with an iron fist for the next 30 years. he says he is in office to promote happiness. he creates a secret police force (La 42) to take down his enemies. he also reforms the economy by making rice, meat and mill monopolies and civil servants must give 10% of their paycheck to him. he also reforms education to demonstrate the importance of patriotism. Viewed as “el tigre”. assassinated in 1961
Angelita
Trujillo’s daughter who was crowned queen at the free worlds fair in 1955-1956. the fair was a 6 month celebration for trujillo’s 25th year in power. the crowning was meant to imitate the crowning of queen elizabeth and demonstrates trujillo’s use of spectacles
