Social, Political and Economic Differences in Latin American History

This article explores the social, political and economic differences in Latin American history, with a focus on Nicaragua, Chile, Costa Rica and Brazil. It analyzes the impact of agriculture, political instability, and social class on the development of these countries.

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Latin American History
Social ,Political and Economic Differences
Economically, agriculture in Nicaragua compared to Chile, Costa Rica and Brazil
contributes to a bigger portion to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Furthermore the
percentage contribution of Agriculture to Nicaragua’s GDP in the 19th century was the highest in
all Latin American economies. Looking at the history of Nicaragua, the nation was in search of
an agricultural commodity to export especially in the mid nineteenth century(Eakin 44). While
the above three economies where switching to non-Agricultural forms of export. The rate of
unemployment in Nicaragua was high. The nation suffered from a budget deficit for most part of
the century and relied on funding from foreign Nation to support its budget. Nicaragua had a
high debt burden and was seeking for the cancellation of some of its foreign debt towards the end
of the century. More to this, the state of inflation in Nicaragua was high(Eakin 44).
Politically Nicaragua faced political instability which had a negative effect on the economy
such as slowing down the economy which led to the rise of inflation; break down of industries
among others (Eakin 44). There were revolutionaries as well as counter revolutionaries that
wanted to gain control of the nation.(Andrew 34).There was limited democracy in the nature
which was a hindrance to economic and social transformation. Looking at an economy like Chile

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relative political stability was response for the rapid economic growth that the nation was
experiencing in the last quarter of the nineteenth century. This also holds true for Costa Rica and
Chile(Wiggin 76). More to this, Chile,CostaRica and Brazil exercise democracy in the 19th
century while Nicaragua’s political arena was characterized by hereditary dictatorship and
wars(Eakin 44). This resulted into the collapse of political institutions .wide spread corruption
and weak institutions were a huge barrier to the development of democracy in the Nation. The
last quarter in particular saw the uniting of churches, students and farmers to rise up and resist
dictatorship in Nicaragua. While in Chile this period was characterized by formulation of
policies that were meant to cause economic development. According to Clare, Nicaragua is
second among the poorest nations in Latin America and has been burden with dictatorship for a
long period of time. However Nicaragua in the last century has made an effort to making
installing democracy (Eakin 45).
Socially, most of the 19th century was characterized by war which had a negative out
come on the politicaland social state of Nicaragua(Eakin 44). Land tenure and more specifically
fertile land was in the custody of political leaders. But toward the end of the 19th century policies
were formulated that redistributed land that was under use to farmer and unoccupied land was in
the control of government. Well there was free education for pupils in primary school; many had
not been able to attain this level of education. The nineteenth century saw majority population
take up the ideology of the “Rights of man” (John 65). Majority of the population is poor. While
on the other hand looking at the social status of the people of Brazil in the 19th century, there was
there emergence of the middle class that were important in bringing about economic growth as
well as advocating for reforms(Eakin 44).
Brazil vs.Chile

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Economically, according to weaner, as of 2004 the per capita GDP stood at three thousand
three hundred twentyfive US dollars, Brazil was still considered as a less developed country even
though Brazil had the biggest economy in Latin America. Brazil was experiencing income
inequality where by huge sums of money rested in the hand of a few people and groups(Eakin
45). The contribution of agriculture the Brazil’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) greatly declined.
on the other hand Chile toward the end of the nineteenth century had a per capita GDP growth
of 4.1 % which was the highest in Latin America( klaus).This growth was even higher than that
of developed countries even when Chile was also considered as a less developed country. The
mid-19thcentury lead to the decline in agriculture as the leading contributor to the nation’s Gross
Domestic Product GDP. The contribution of agriculture to both Nations’ GDPs in the 19th
century was more in Chile compared to Brazil (Eakin 45).
Politically,. Alter gaining independence in 1822 form Portuguese rule, the 19th century
came with numerous changes in Brazil.According to Richard Graham,Brazil’s political Arena
was characterized by political patronage. Brazilians that had accumulated wealth had thea huge
influence in the state of politics in the nation. This would go as far influencing election victories
and government job opportunities. On the other hand Chile experienced good democracy for the
most parts of the nineteenth century after breaking away from Spanish rule in 1810. This paved
way for making reforms in the country that were geared to increasing economic growth.
(William 71).The last quarter of the 19thcentury saw a decline in democracy and a rise in
dictatorship. However this quarter sow the introduction of liberal policies which were very
instrumental in the economic development of the nation.(William 72). This is evidenced by Chile
having the fastest per capita GDP growth in Latin America.

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Socially, the nineteenth century in Brazil was comprised of those that owned farmlands
and those that did not own land. The second half of the century led to the emergence of a middle
class group of Brazilians. The nineteenth century was characterized by low levels of income.
Towards the end of the century Brazil started experience economic growth. Low income level
however became a hindrance to economic growth as well as slowing down on the emergence of
the middle class. On the hand in Chile comprised of a class of people that had land and another
class of farmers. Similarly Chile just likes Brazil so arise in the middle class who demanded
reforms. The middle class in Chile comprised of traders, the educated among others, they had no
allegiance to farmland owners. This class pushed for reforms.Farm workers and miners that were
the landless class suffer from harsh policies of the government

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Works cited
Marshall C. Eakin, The Origins of Modern Science in Costa Rica: The Instituto Fisico-
Geografico Nacional, 1887-1904.Journal of Latin American Research Review, Vol. 34, No. 1
(1999), pp. 44-45
Weaner Baer. ‘’The Brazilian Economy: Growth and Development’’:Reasearchgate,jan
2008,https://www.researchgate.net/publication/38981792_The_Brazilian_Economy_Growth_and
_Development Accessed on March 14, 2020
Klaus schmidt-hebbel,” Chile's Economic Growth” Scielo. 2006
https://scielo.conicyt.cl/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0717-68212006000100001Accessed
on March 14, 2020
William R. Keech,”Democracy, Dictatorship and Economic Performance in
Chile”:https://fmwww.bc.edu/repec/esLATM04/up.7151.1083008433.pdfAccessed on March 14,
2020
Richard Graham,’’ Patronage and Politics in Nineteenth-Century
Brazil”https://www.sup.org/books/pages/2688/Introduction.pdf Accessed on March 14, 2020

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Steve w,’’Growth and Chronic Poverty in Nicaragua”, Chronic Poverty Research entre, Aug
2008,http://www.chronicpoverty.org/uploads/publication_files/CPR2_Background_Papers_Wig
gins_06.pdfAccessed on March 14, 2020
Andrew. Wilson,”Conflict Beyond Borders: The International Dimensions of Nicaragua’s
Violent Twentieth Century, 1909-1990”: University of Nebraska – Lincoln. Spring
2016.https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?
article=1087&context=historydissAccessed on March 14, 2020
Clare .R. Seelke,’’Nicaragua: Political Situation and U.S. Relations”:CRS-Report for Congress
March 2008, https://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RS22836.pdfAccessed on March 14, 2020
Elizabeth,John.W,”The Red and the Black The Sandinistas and the Nicaraguan
Revolution”:University of London institute of Latin American studies research
Papers.https://sas-space.sas.ac.uk/3398/1/B10_-
_The_Red_and_the_Black_The_Sandinistas_and_the_Nicaraguan_Revolution.pdfAccessed on
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