Latin american progress
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By the 1950’s Latin American countries had, for the most part become fully integrated into the free flow of international trade. More and more Liberals came into power as the wants of their citizens increased. Land owners wanted to sell their goods internationally, the working middle class wanted paved streets, libraries, and working sewers, and the elites were in favor of an improved transportation system, which would benefit them by improving the range of their armies and in turn, enabling them to quiet rebellions more quickly.
Steam power was a major push for progress, and the Industrial Revolution of Latin America. Factories were rare, which contributed minimal amounts of produced items to export, but with the introduction of steam power, Latin America jumped at a chance to get more involved in international trade. Steam powered ships were not only faster and more reliable, but also carried more. Transportation was not only improved internationally, but on a national level throughout Latin America. Expensive rail roads were expanded, linking important cities together. This increased agriculture production around the areas of stretched track because now there was both a market and a system to buy and sell these goods.
Transportation was not the only thing brought to Latin America. Communications united the far corners with the epicenters of the economy, as telegraph lines were strung like a spider’s web over Latin America. Instant communication improved business and militarily practices alike, and by 1874 a transatlantic telegraph cable was laid, connecting Brazil to Europe. The European-imitating Elites could not have been more pleased.
Progress in Latin America was not the same for everyone, especially women. Progress seemed to evolve around them instead of with them. Education for women increased at a crawl, and women attending a University as still frowned upon. Free women had rights, or played a leading role in politics. Those who did participate successfully ware those who participated through literature.
Although still not deemed as common, or even practical, many women who went against the Latin American female norm were writers. Poems, novels, and short stories revolving around culture, history, love, and poverty were common themes among women writers, as it was a way to address the masses. The 1841 novel "Sab", written by Cuban born Gertrudis Gomez de Avellaneda is comparable to "Uncle Tom’s Cabin", an American classic written during the abolition of slavery. It was an interracial tale, which took a positive step forward in such a racially diverse country for equality and acceptation.
Another important feminist writer who inspired women to behavior more like the modern women of North America and Europe was Argentinian born Juana Manuela Gorriti. Of her many works, probably her most influential one for women was her newspaper The Argentina Dawn, in which she published many articles on the rights and education of women, and how Progress was limiting their freedom. She also held tertulias while living in Peru, where many educated and fashionable men and women gathered to discuss progress and literature. Of the many notable participants, the Peruvian born Teresa González de Fanning would later found the enlightened women’s movement based on some of the discussions in Lima.
[edit] References
- Chasteen, John Charles. Born in Blood and Fire. 2nd ed. London: W. W. Norton & Company, 2006.
- Sylvester, Santiago. “Exile and property.” Iruya. 8 Mar. 1997. 17 Mar. 2007
- Fernandez, Maria Cristina. “Franciscano Military man.” Portal Informativo de SALTA. 3 Mar. 2007. 17 Mar. 2007
- "History of Peru." Wikipedia. 20 Mar. 2007. 15 Mar. 2007
- Juana Manuela Gorriti Loyola College in Maryland, 20 Mar. 2007. 18 Mar. 2007
- "Juana Manuela Gorriti." Wikipedia. 07 May. 2007.
