American Transformation, 1800-1890 Essays -- collapse of colonialism, n

OverviewWhat major political changes did Western Hemisphere nations face in the nineteenth century? (The Earth and Its Peoples, 633)The collapse of colonialism created various challenges for the bran-newly free nations of the Western Hemisphere, in the 19th century. The rise of Personalist leaders, resurgence of Native American resistance, and in-migration all affected the political environments of North and South America during that time. Young nations like The linked States, Argentina, and Brazil found it difficult to manage themselves under their new constitutions. Regional separations and movements for womens and black rights added to this difficulty, creating new political groups and questioning national identity.Perhaps the most significant political change in the 19th century, the regionalization of occidental states challenged the growth of their respective identities. As Bulliet says, after independence, new national g everywherenments were generally weaker than the c olonial governments they replaced. In Spanish America, initiatives like Gran Columbia failed because of debate over economic policy, power struggles, and other interprovincial conflict. The lands of New Spain (1521-1821) were wide and varied, and many of the natives never desired to live under such a flag to begin with. This was illustrated with the class War, a string of many battles that were waged between the Maya and the Spanish over rights and land in the Yucatn area of Mexico, starting in 1847. Regionalism also affected the United States. The size and composition of states influenced the drafting of the constitution. The smaller states, along the East Coast, feared that their say would be repressed by larger states. The states and western territori... ...ves are as liable for their oppression as those who oppress them. The third resolution voices, the servile submission and quiet indifference of the Women of this country are the fruit either of ignorance or degradat ion. This seems quite a logical, although, from what Ive read, I think it was a combination of the two. Through the words of these resolutions, I can see the precursors to the feminist movement of the 60s.When learning about the reception of these resolutions by the constitutional convention, part of me isnt surprised, given the prevailing views at the time another part of me is shocked that these men can evidently ignore the wrongs that have been so clearly laid out in front of them. It reminds me that we have wrongs that are allowed in todays society, which may be more subtle, but no less important, and are ignored by our representatives.