As nouns the difference between dictator and caudillo is that dictator is originally, a magistrate without colleague in republican ancient rome, who held full executive authority for a term granted by the senate legislature, typically to conduct a war while caudillo is. Spanish america after independence, 18251900 atlantic history. They controlled the new nations as military dictators, or caudillos kowdeeyohz. Foreign lenders took over latin american industries in payment for unpaid loans with high interest rates. Cuba and latin america spanishamerican war18981900 u. After latin america gained independence, who became its largest european trading partner. To protect the independence of latin american nations and the security of the united states. Some have been fairly benign, some cruel and violent, and others merely peculiar. Latin americas new class of dictators have hijacked democracy.
Latin american dictators of the 20th century mcfarland. He was the rival of constitutional rulers and the precursor of modern dictators. After latin america gained independence, france became its largest european trading. There is no precise definition of caudillo, which is often used interchangeably with dictator and strongman. Dictatorship and democracy in latin america foreign affairs. How to conduct a latinamerican revolution, 1865 at this site based on observations in ecuador. Among the spanish words for leader is caudillo, which derives from the. They had american and french revolutions influence. Percentage of democratic regimes in latin america, 19002010 page 3 2. In the wake of the latin american autonomy development in the mid nineteenth century, politically insecure conditions and the long understanding of outfitted clash prompted the rise in a large number of the new nations of strongmen who were regularly magnetic and whose hang on power relied upon command over. The caudillo of spanish america was both regional chieftain and, in the turbulent years of the early nineteenth century, national leader.
Learn how to say dictators in spanish with audio of a native spanish speaker. A caudillo is a type of personalist leader wielding military and political power. Theodore rooseveltrough rider and veteran of the spanishamerican war. In this major revision of the borzoi book dictatorship in spanish america, edito. By the mid1800s, nearly all the countries of latin america were ruled by caudillos. Manual of style, and the american psychological association apa. Rule by dictators has taken several different forms. Central america, certainly a part of latin america well populated by caudillos and dictators is well represented in this volume, which has much relevance, for the. In latin american literature, the dictator novel challenging.
Great dictators of human history have in fact been consumed by this form of anxiety, including the roman emperors tiberius and commodus, and in our own time stalin and maotsetung. But as latin american societies evolved and political arenas became more important than. A caudillo is part of the larger iberian tradition of authoritarian leaders, with roots in the iberian past. In the wake of the latin american independence movement in the early 19th century, politically unstable conditions and the long experience of armed conflict led to the emergence in many of the new countries of strongmen who were often charismatic and whose hold on power depended on control over armed followers, patronage, and vigilance. Such dictators have been also referred to as personalismos. They were people of power in latin american countries and their political power mostly resided in the fact that they were highly positioned military leaders. Between the years 1973 and 1990, his regime ruled with an iron fist.
Peru has recently been celebrating, with appropriate solemnity, the hundredth anniversary of the battle of ayacucho, which in 1824 decided the political independence of south america. Paul lewis explores the origins of the regions authoritarian culture and the different. But even in the pantheon of modern despots, you occasionally stumble across one so cheerfully sadistic he makes the others look like barney the dinosaur. Castros reluctant leavetakingwith its periodic nearfinalesfits into a long tradition of hispanic caudillos or dictators. Military dictators who ruled in latin america were known. Latin american dictators leaders in complete control. Roman dictators 509 27 bce magister populi elected and with 6 months terms. The term is historically associated with spain, and with spanish america after. Throughout the 20th century, the emergence of authoritarian dictatorships in latin america coincided with periods of social convulsion and economic uncertainty.
The united states influences latin america, and mexico undergoes a revolution. The caudillo is a latin american military dictator. They increased latin american exports but kept latin america dependent on importing manufactured goods. The editor writes a very cogent forward and the rest of the book is journal articles and essays written. Spanish south america, 18101825 a creoleled revolutionary junta declared independence in venezuela in 1811. Transformations around the globe, 18001914 china and japan respond differently to the european powers. Spanish authorities were able to rally free blacks and slaves to defend the spanish empire because the juntas leaders were interested primarily in pursuing the interests of creole landholders. After losing what war did spain ceded its last colonies to the united states. Indeed, even caudillos and dictators were forced to acknowledge, at least in. Dictators in spanish america hardcover january 1, 1992 by na author see all formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Gordon, a senior fellow at the center for a secure free society, is a retired navy commander who served as the pentagon spokesman for the western hemisphere in the office of. His power base rested on ownership of land and control of armed bands. The independence of spanish america did not constitute an anticolonial. Strong, colorful personalities who impose their will upon laws, constitutions, courts, and congresses are an enduring feature of latin american politics, beginning with the violent regional bosses caudillos of the early nineteenth century and continuing with the hyperpresidential systems of today.
In this major revision of the borzoi book dictatorship in spanish america, editor hugh hamill has presented conflicting interpretations of caudillismo in twentyseven essays written by an international group of historians, anthropologists, sociologists, political scientists, journalists, and. Latin america has traditionally been home to dictators. After independence from the colonial rule, the caudillos ruled many latin american nations as dictators. North americans have long exported their culture and values to latin america but have remained largely uninformed about their neighbors to the. The spanish language, religion catholicism, and social structure were spread to both the natives of latin america and the immigrants who arrived. As a direct result of he spanishamerican war, the united states acquired what. They were able to hold on to power because they were backed by the military. In latin america in the 19th century, various dictators arose after effective central authority had collapsed in the new nations recently freed from spanish colonial rule. The social and labor system in latin america was called the encomienda system. These caudillos, or selfproclaimed leaders, usually. Rosas based his iron rule on provincial dictators called caudillos, and small armies of gauchos cowboys.
The country was plunged into civil war and another bloody period of the history of argentina ensued. In 1852, rosas was overthrown, and the new ruler, urquiza, tried to establish himself as president. Many of latin americas most famous caudillos became dictators. The a level content advisory board modern languages, a level and as level illustrative content. A number of military leaders who were part of the spanish american struggle.
There is little dispute, however, that spanish american caudillos have been more numerous and more pervasive than such leaders in other regions. Since its origins, congresses played significant roles in the emerging states of latin. Representatives of venezuela, colombia, ecuador and boliviathe republics founded by bolivar the liberatorhastened to lima to affirm their faith in the future of these democratic peoples. America in danger, 1862 at this site on the justifications of military dictators. Pdf,epub,kindle download a history of military government in newly acquired territory of the united states, pp. Further, while the words caudillo and caudillismo are variants of dictator and dictatorship, they have a special resonance that suggests the unique political environment of spanish america. Theres no way to sort this out, because every part of the political spectrum seems to have a pet dictator. This book covers 15 dictators representing every decade of the century and geographically from the. The wave of military dictatorships in south america in the second half of the twentieth century left a particular mark on latin american culture. In many aspects, they were like military dictators of states, especially after the war of independence happened when. List of dictators in latin america university of south.