Why did Europeans take over Latin America?

History. Latin America came to fruition in the 1500’s after European “discovery” of the New World. Countries such as Spain, France and Portugal colonized the region. The European countries’ demand for free labor led them to engage in the African slave trade.

How was Latin America affected by European exploration?

When Europeans came to Latin America they brought many crops and ideas, but they also brought many deadly diseases to the previously isolated communities. That natives of Latin America had no immunity to these diseases, so the spread quickly and killed many.

What was causing the discontent in Latin America that led to independence movements?

What were the causes of discontent in Latin America? Social and ethnic structures caused discontent. Mestizos, people of Native American and European descent and mulattoes, people of African and European descent were angry at being denied status, wealth, and power available to whites.

Why did Latin America become independent?

Napoleon, seeking to expand his empire, attacked and defeated Spain, and he put his elder brother Joseph on the Spanish throne. This act made for a perfect excuse for secession, and by the time Spain had gotten rid of Joseph in 1813 most of their former colonies had declared themselves independent.

Why is Latin America a region?

The strict definition of ‘Latin America’ is the region of the Americas where Latin languages are spoken (Spanish, Portuguese and French). These countries have more in common with each other, sharing elements of historical experience, language and culture, than they do with North America.

What led to independence movements in the Western Hemisphere?

There were several slave rebellions in the Western Hemisphere, but the Haitian Revolution was the most successful. This had a lot to do with the influence of the French Revolution. The ideals of the revolution inspired rebellion and the events of the French Revolution gave the oppressed people of St.

Is Latin America Western?

Latin America is as much a part of the ‘Western World’ as Canada or the United States are. There is substantial difference among the various nations in the portion of the population that is descended from the Native peoples, which is arguably not Western, but most of them are Catholic and most speak Spanish.

When did Latin America gain independence from Spain?

After three centuries of colonial rule, independence came rather suddenly to most of Spanish and Portuguese America. Between 1808 and 1826 all of Latin America except the Spanish colonies of Cuba and Puerto Rico slipped out of the hands of the Iberian powers who had ruled the region since the conquest.

Why did Latin America become part of Europe?

During the 18th and 19th centuries, various European countries made their land grabs in an attempt to establish their empire. Latin America came from a desire to distinguish French-, Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries from those that spoke English, German or any other language.

What happened to Latin America between 1808 and 1826?

Between 1808 and 1826 all of Latin America except the Spanish colonies of Cuba and Puerto Rico slipped out of the hands of the Iberian powers who had ruled the region since the conquest. The rapidity and timing of that dramatic change were the result of a combination of long-building tensions in colonial rule and a series of external events.

Why did Latin America become more conservative in the early 20th century?

One reason was that the elites of Latin America wanted more control over trade, taxes. Two, the elites who were of European and Spanish descent were often more conservative than the Spanish and didn’t want to liberalize in certain ways. Spain was changing politically was becoming more democratic and open.