From Harvest of the Empire’s Chapter 2: The Spanish Borderland and the making of an Empire by Juan Gonzales, what was and why was there such a difference in the development of the United States and Latin America? (Mention the Control and Influence the U.S obtained)
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
In Chapter 2 of Harvest of Empire, Juan González outlines the stark contrast between the development of the United States and Latin America. The key difference, he argues, lies in the distinct colonial systems that each region experienced, as well as the geopolitical and economic forces that shaped their growth.
For the U.S., its development was influenced heavily by British colonialism, which encouraged settler colonialism—allowing large groups of European settlers to establish permanent communities. This led to the expansion of agriculture, a relatively early industrial revolution, and a strong push for democratic political systems. By the time of independence, the U.S. had already laid the foundations for a market-driven economy, with a high level of autonomy from European powers. The U.S. government also employed policies of territorial expansion, notably with the Doctrine of Manifest Destiny, which justified the acquisition of land and resources from Native Americans and other countries (like Mexico).
On the other hand, Latin America experienced a different colonial structure under the Spanish and Portuguese empires. These countries focused on extracting resources (like gold and silver) from their colonies, often using indigenous labor or enslaved Africans. The Spanish and Portuguese empires operated through systems like encomienda and repartimiento, which were designed to exploit and control rather than establish permanent European settlements. This extractive economy prevented the development of a diversified economy or the growth of an indigenous middle class, which in turn hindered social mobility and the creation of institutions that could support long-term stability.
After independence, the U.S. established a system of control and influence over Latin America, particularly through the Monroe Doctrine, which asserted U.S. dominance in the Western Hemisphere. This policy discouraged European intervention in Latin American affairs while simultaneously providing the U.S. with opportunities to intervene in the region’s politics and economies, often to safeguard its own economic and strategic interests. Latin American countries, meanwhile, struggled with internal divisions, often exacerbated by foreign interference, that delayed their ability to form stable, unified governments.
Thus, the difference in development stems from the contrasting colonial legacies, the types of economies that were fostered, and the differing geopolitical circumstances that the U.S. and Latin America faced post-independence.
