7. Progress in Latin America, 1850 to 1880

This week we examine a period of liberal ascendency and economic progress in Latin America after 1850 until about 1880. Latin Americans finally began to make strides in their economic recovery and begin to build new transportation infrastructure, such as steam ships, railroads and trans-Atlantic telegraph that allows greatly expanded exports.
Liberals come to power in numerous countries such as Mexico, Argentina and eventually Brazil and institute changes such as separation of church and state, and in the case of Brazil, an end to the monarchy and the creation of an constitutional republic. In Mexico, conservatives lose a civil war and invite Napoleon III to send over an Austrian archduke to establish a Mexican empire under a French speaking monarch, supported by French troops.
In Nicaragua, liberals lose a civil war and invite in U.S. slave supporter and mercenary William Walker who attempts to take over Nicaragua and add it to the United States as a slave state.
Women become more prominent in Latin America, primarily through literature.
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