Chapter 02 Summary

CHAPTER 2

In the nineteenth century, regionalism – the practice of identifying with a geographical, cultural, and political unit smaller than the nation-state – was a global phenomenon, prevalent not only in Latin America but also in North America, Europe, and Asia. In Latin America, regionalism threatened the integrity of Brazil and led to the failure of efforts to form super-states on the scale of the former Spanish viceroyalties.

Regionalism undermined the efforts by elites based in Mexico City to unite the half of the former Spanish empire north of Panama. Outlying provinces either seceded to become independent, in the case of Texas (which later annexed itself to the United States) and Central America, or were seized by force by the United States, in the case of California and New Mexico. After a few years, the United Provinces of Central America further fragmented into five new states. Concessions to regional autonomy were essential to keep Yucatán and Chiapas within Mexico.

In South America, the schemes of Simón Bolívar and his followers for a "Gran Colombia" failed, despite state-making wars fought up and down the Andean region. Uruguay and Paraguay seceded from what had been the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata, leaving Argentines to debate the powers of Buenos Aires versus the interior provinces. The independent Brazilian Empire remained whole, the monarchy putting down provincial rebellions in the north and south and making concessions to regional elites.

In general, through the mid-nineteenth century, centrifugal forces – separatism, federalism, and regional autonomy – prevailed over empire-building and centralism. Regional caudillos – popular local or regional military leaders who commanded loyalty in exchange for patronage and glory – became power brokers between local people and national governments.