Historical Debate
- Argentine historian Tulio Halperin Donghi points out difficulty in defining caudillos
- went beyond stereotypical role of military or paramilitary leader merely seeking to obtain power by force rather than democratic means
- Italian political scientist Federica Morelli pointed to new definition of caudillos
- Traditional view: power-hungry traitors to the cause of democracy (prevalent through late 19th and early 20th century, North American and European historians)
- Revisionist view: developed modern political policies alongside traditional conservative roles
- Revisionist perspective focuses on community-based grassroots political practices that contributed towards nation building
- petitions, local revolts
- lawyers and jurists working to construct laws for states
- formed core of political elites and influenced public opinion
- social actors contributed to nation building from salons, literary circles, political clubs, etc.
Origin of Caudillos
- emerged from liberal and conservative camps, representing grievances of different interest groups
- ranchers, farmers, merchants, landowners, mine owners, etc.
- sometimes represented lower classes and indigenous folks
- had mixed origins:
- Rafael Carrera of Guatemala, humble origins
- Jose Antonia Paez of Venezuela, mixed racial and social origins
- Martin Miguel de Guemes of Northern Argentina, indigenous
- etc.
- peons or former soldiers of independence armies became military support for early caudillos
- caudillos being successful and popular officers of the wars of independence
- were charismatic and could employ military justice to maintain authority and eliminate opponents
- caudillos could also come to power through liberal—conservative hostility
- ex. Rafael Carrera of Guatemala
- through conflict between the Church and the liberal government, gained power from powerful municipalities and rose to power
- ex. Rafael Carrera of Guatemala
- caudillos didn’t always become President
- ex. Businessman Diego Portales of Chile in the 1930s
- formed powerful conservative influence groups as Minister, then used influence to push for his ideas of strong systems of law and order
- ex. Businessman Diego Portales of Chile in the 1930s
Role of Caudillos
- important nation-builders in L.A. politics from 1820 to 1870s
- but not the only social actors demanding/suppressing change
- ex. in newly independent Kingdom of Brazil (source Brazilian historian Jurandir Malerba)
- strong conservative elite groups exerted power to maintain privilege, monopoly, and institution of slavery
- occasionally supported local strongmen—caudillos
- difficult to dismiss caudillos as stereotypical crude despots
- ex. Juan Manuel de Rosas of Argentina
- ruled for 23 years as a tyrant, refusing to build republican institutions or a constitution
- however, never touched public funds and lived modestly
- a conservative landowner in Argentina ruling with an iron hand, supported by the RCC and curtailed free speech and ideas
- 1835, announced new customs law to protect agriculture, ranchers, and manufacturing industry
- benefiting the middle class and urban lower class
- wary against Native American population
- ex. 1852, when offered support against army that would unseat him, thought that the indigenous people would get too much power and revolt
- ex. Juan Manuel de Rosas of Argentina
Case Study: Juan Manuel de Rosas
- earned power fighting wars against foreign and domestic enemies
- came to power as Governor of Buenos Aries Province (1829-32)
- Caudillo of Argentina from 1835 till defeat in Battle of Caseros in 1852
- believed that the cattle industry was the backbone of the nation
- thus, popular with ranchers, meat-plant owners, etc.
- owned lots of land & related to Argentina’s wealthiest landowning family
- supported the traditional role of Catholic church, against liberal reform
- popular with people but ruthless in putting down opponents, foreign or domestic
- ruled from Buenos Aires, but support came from countryside
- suspicious of Europeans, but popular
- key to power and longevity: military prowess
- recruited army and led them to victory
- after victory, gave them land
- maintained support from landowners by not initiating land reforms
- eventually defeated by creole elite
- greatest achievement: keeping Argentina united