Race Change in Latin America: 19th Century

Racism is something of past, present, and future. Racism is something that exists all over the world. Latin America in the 1800’s was no exception. Rulers and citizens alike had a sense of hatred to other groups of all backgrounds. The rulers of Argentina and other countries saw a dislike of natives and people living in the rural regions of the countries.

In Argentina in 1845, a future president of the country, Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, released a number essays expressed the future he envisioned for Argentina. This man had a sort of envy for the European luxuries and culture and wanted that to be expressed in his culture. He discussed a southern region of Scottish settlers that he saw as ideal. He talked about how their lawns looked great with flowers and shrubs and how they did honest work until enjoyed the luxuries of life after work with fortunes. He saw the people living in the rural areas as enjoying “idleness” and saw them as “savages.” He felt that their lifestyle was grotesque and less that worthy in Argentina. He wanted to impose the European lifestyle on them, like it was in the city. The Elites in the cities wanted this as well. They were willing to use investments, loans, and the money produced by exports to do so.

In other regions, slavery was still a big issue. Brazil had began to impose a sort of emancipation. Though, the children born to slaves had to wait until they were twenty-one to enjoy the freedom. Before that, the owners had a choice to make them stay until that age, or let them free and be reimbursed for their loss. This caused a number of slave rebellions across the country. This caused a large amount of racism toward Afro-Americas. There was also a large amount of dislike toward the mestizo and natives. They believed that they were part of all problems. As wars began all over South America and an incredible loss in Paraguay, in which over three-fourths of the Paraguayan men were killed. Brazil wanted to create a strong army, but did not have many men to make it happen. They created an army made up of primarily slaves was created. The owners that gave up their slaves to fight in the wars, were reimbursed and others were recruited. They were successful. The people in the army came back and began to rein in being known as “the saviors.” However, they opposed to fulfilling the duty of what the army was originally created for: capturing runaway slaves.

Economic status also had a lot to do with how people felt about race. Economically advantaged people saw the people in small villages and in tribes as lazy savages and believed they were less. Like the future Argentina president, they wanted the country to be centered more toward European culture. They believed the Europeans to be more classy. Many essentially wanted to eradicate the way of life for the indigenous people. They were willing to dish out money for this.

Religion also played a sense in the situation of race. People of a variety of races, particularly of Afro-American, Mestizo, and Natives, were tired of the church and the republic controlling the government having say with anything with race. The people who wanted the European life style saw lavish churches as the pinnacle of luxury.