Latin America - L3 Geopolitics

Treaty of Tordesillas

a treaty that defined a meridian of longitude halfway between Cape Verde islands and the Caribbean

all lands east of the line were to be Portuguese

all lands west became Spanish

thus, Spain claimed most of the Americas (not yet fully known at that time)

slight adjustments were made later (Brazil, etc.)

Spanish Man

the mainland coast of Florida, Gulf Coast, and northern coast of the Guyanas

basically, the coastlines surrounding the Caribbean islands

The Pirates of the Caribbean

were active in this region

French, English, and Dutch pirates captured Spanish ships full of goods.

the goal was to weaken Spanish control

they positioned themselves close to chipping lanes in the Caribbean islands like Bahamas, Tortuga, etc.

Simon Bolivar

a Venezuelan military and later political leader who led the independence movement over most of the northern South American Spanish colonies

Spanish American War

the Cuban War of Independence turned into…

after US victory, we inherited several Spanish territories, like Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines

we gave Cuba autonomy, but kept Guantanamo Bay

War of the Pacific (1879)

was about control of the Atacama desert, which contained valuable minerals (nitrates for fertilizer and gunpowder)

Bolivia lost its coastline to Chile

Panama Canal

US took over from the French and dug the canal

US territory from 1914 until 1977, when it was given to Panama

Banana Republics

countries who rely on one or two primary resources or products (coffee, mining, and especially bananas)

Cinco De Mayo

Mexico won the war with the French

Marxist

regimes formed in many Latin American countries

the ideology was attractive because many Latin American countries were ruled by monarchies, plutocracies, or military juntas

movement promised to dismantle plantations, give land back to the people, improve standards of living, etc.