University Latin American History: Eakin Chapters 15 & 16 Review

This assignment provides detailed answers to review questions from Chapters 15 and 16 of Marshall C. Eakin's "The History of Latin America: Collision of Cultures." The assignment covers a wide range of topics including the political complexities of Latin America after independence, positivism and its influence, the presidencies of Benito Juarez and Porfirio Diaz, the concept of "outward-oriented growth," the significance of terms like "banana republic" and "underdeveloped nations," and the impact of capitalism. It also explores the growth of Argentina compared to the U.S., the differences between Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, and Mexico, Brazil's transition from colonial to modern states, and the relationship between Paraguay and Brazil. Additionally, the assignment addresses the role of foreign powers, especially Britain and the U.S., in Latin America, including informal colonialism, the Monroe Doctrine, the Spanish-American War, dollar diplomacy, and the Good Neighbor policy. The assignment concludes with an analysis of a poem by Ruben Dario about the U.S.

Running Head: LATIN AMERICAN HISTORY
Latin American History
Name of the student
Name of the University
Author note

1LATIN AMERICAN HISTORY
Chapter 5
1.) According to Eakin, politically the story in Latin America is more
complicated. What does he mean by this statement? (219)
As per the perspective of Eakin, when he had highlighted the aspect of complication
existing in the political sphere of Latin American history, his hints were towards the disorders
that were dominant in the history of Latin America in the period following the independence.
The complexities also ranged from the politics that has been dominated by the conservative
ideals (Eakin).
2.) Define positivism, and explain how it relates to science and “technocrats.” (222)
Positivism refers to the social thoughts of the 19th century America where there has
been a glorification of the scientific knowledge and the rejection of the traditional ideals.
According to the belief, humanity has been placed over the traditional views. The approach of
the positivism was very elitist in its approach, where the proposition to run the state was
ascribed with the group of people scientifically backed known as the ‘technocrats’ (Eakin).
3.) Compare and contrast the liberal Mexican presidencies of Benito Juarez and
Porfirio Diaz. If they both had similar political philosophies, why is one considered a
hero and the other a villain? (223-226)
The president of Mexico, during his realm had brought about the period of reform. As
such the period is also marked by the factors of the civil wars. However, the footstep of the
Juarez was followed by the liberals gaining their control over the political scenario of the
country. His contribution can also be noted in the unification of the liberals. Porfirio Diaz,
followed the steps of Bentio, used the methods of repression and force in order to reinforce a

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sense of national unity as well as stability in terms of the politics. His approach resulted in the
diminishing in concern for the security of the people in terms of the economy and social
(Eakin).
4.) Briefly describe the concept of “outward-oriented growth,” and explain its
relation to various Latin American countries. (226-227)
In the view of the certain economists from the Latin America is that there has been a shift in
the economic sphere where Mexico had taken up the model of the outward oriented growth.
The emphasize is placed upon the export of products to the European countries as well as in
the united states as the accelerating point of the economic development (Eakin).
5.) Identify and explain the significance of the terms “banana republic,” and
“underdeveloped nations.” (228)
A railway in Costa Rica had been constructed with the aim of transporting bananas to the
land of New Orleans. As such the influence of the companies involved in the trade of banana
to influence the politics imbibed in certain small scale economy gave rise to the term of the
Banana Republic (Eakin).
6.) Eakin states that capitalism may be the problem in Latin America, but it also
could be the solution. What do you think? (229-230)
The view in the favor and in the against of the capitalism, the factor has been seen as
the integrating factor behind the slowing down of the economic development in the country.
The problem of the ideals of capitalism has been seen the obstacle that it had created by the
virtue of its structure. The disadvantage was also created by the entry of the country into the
international economy (Eakin).

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7.) Compare and contrast the growth of Argentina with the U.S. (230-231)
The impact of the immigration can be noted in terms of the Argentina and the U.S.
The immigration of the European blood had infused the country with the European aspects.
The Campaign for the annihilation had opened up the opportunities for the revolution in the
agricultural sphere whereas the however, the Pampas in Argentina had become the center of
the wheat cultivation with the countryside being dominated by the landowners(Eakin).
8.) How were Uruguay, Argentina, Chile and Costa Rica different than countries
like Mexico? (232)
Uruguay, Chile, costa Rica and Argentina were different from the country like Mexico as the
all the countries in concern had experienced the force of transformation, however, the force
of transformation was dictatorial in its nature in Mexico (Eakin).
9.) Describe and analyze the political, cultural and economic factors which
contributed to Brazil’s transition from colonial to modern. (232-235)
In order to attain the status of the modern state the Brazil was faced by a number of
cultural clashes that stemmed from the efforts invested in by the liberals and the urge of the
positivists. As compared to the rest of the Latin America, Brazil had exhibited certain sense
of stability among the scenario of clashes that happened. Abolition of the slavery also acted
as another crucial factor behind the movement of the country from the colonial towards the
modernity (Eakin).
10.) What was the relationship between Paraguay and Brazil? (236)

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The war between Argentina and Brazil had led to the involvement of Paraguay in the
realm of international market (Eakin).
11.) Identify and explain the significance of the phrase, “Latin America was
condemned to progress” (entire chapter).
The status of the Latin America had undergone through a large number of clashes in
the socio, political and the cultural sphere. However, the situation of turmoil that the country
went through paved its path towards the developed nation through several warfare and the
abolition of the slavery(Eakin).
Eakin Review Questions: Ch 16
How does Eakin describe the complicated relationship between the role of foreign
powers and the role of Latin American countries and peoples? (240-241)
The evolution of the Latin America since the 1492 had been attributed to the external
connection that the country had developed. Since the 16the century conquest the impact of
the foreign power can be experienced to cast influences on the events (Eakin).
What were some of the ways the British exerted their influence in Brazil? (241-242)
After emerging as one of the greatest economy the global trade was created by Britain
to influence the market scenario, which in a way created notable impact on several emerging
countries (Eakin).
What does Eakin mean by the phrase, “informal colonialism?” (242)

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Informal Colonialism was seen as another form of the trend of imperialism that was
noted in the sphere of the free trade. Control and the power was influenced by the diplomats
as well as the monetary factors in the respect (Eakin).
Before the 20th century, describe the role of the U.S. in Latin America (243)
Before the period of the 20th century there has been a presence of the US in the
domain of the country. Though the business and the investment scenario were merely less
significant in terms the presence of the military from the US was sporadic in nature (Eakin).
What is the relationship between manifest destiny and the Canal Zone in Panama?
(244)
The manifest destiny had allowed the US to spread the section so the continent as they
had been allotted in order to lavage the development on a yearly basis. As such, the
expansionist took up to the opportunities to continue their overspreading which brought the
Panama Canal under its control (Eakin).
How did the Monroe Doctrine come into play with Venezuela and Great Britain? (245)
Monroe Doctrine was being put into action in order to mitigate the tussle of over the
border between Great Britain and Venezuela that was not prominent. The doctrine allowed to
bring about a factor of negotiation (Eakin).
What led to the Spanish American War? (246)
The discrimination of the landowning classes was experienced in a lesser extent in the
industry concerned with Sugar production in the Puerto Rico. However, despite of the
island’s identity as the Spanish Colony they had been drawn in the economic sphere of U.S
giving rise to the war (Eakin).

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Why did dollar diplomacy lead the U.S. to intervene in Latin America? (248)
In order to protect the investment and the business U.S foreign policy were being
brought into use. During the rule of the Howard Taft, it came to be known as the Dollar
diplomacy. As such the aim of the policy was to safeguard the resource of the U.S in the
offshore (Eakin).
Briefly describe the Good Neighbor policy. (250)
Under the efforts of the Wilson the intervention of the U.S in terms of the military had
continued with the urge to train the neighbors of the US on their southern part to enhance
their governance and elect good men (Eakin).
Which stanza (out of the three) stands out to you as the most powerful or poignant from
Ruben Dario’s poem about the U.S.? Why? (251)
According to the student, it seems that the first paragraph of the poem is crucial in the
respect of the poem, as the function of the US has been ascribed as that of the invader of the
future. The concern is to invade the native Americans of Christian origin and the speaker of
French language (Eakin).

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Works Cited
Eakin, Marshall C. The history of Latin America: Collision of cultures. Macmillan, 2007.