This chapter focuses on the modernization of Latin America right after it gains its independence. According to Dawson, modernization involved innovation. New and advanced technology was invented. For instance railways that extended many miles, and photographs that could provide information and “were also critical to documenting the material signs of progress” (Dawson, p.126). The lives of the middle class and women were also improved. There were more opportunities in the labor force for them.

What was interesting to me about this chapter was how the elites in Latin America ruled and wanted more modernization. They believed that the only way for their society to become modern was to have order. Latin Americans also wanted their society to have similar values to European Western culture. For instance, Brazil and Argentina had many European immigrants coming to their country.

A document of Creelman’s interview with Diaz, the Mexican president who was announcing his retirement is shown in this chappter. Creelman was very elaborate when describing Diaz. Not only was he describing Diaz’s personality but emphasizes on his physical characteristics. An example is when he mentions something about his nostrils! Creelman’s description of Diaz is what actually stood out to me when reading this chapter. I could see how much Creelman idolized Diaz and thought of him as a great figure and/or hero. Another thing that I found interesting in this document was Diaz’s optimism. He showed a lot of confidence and believes that even though he is retiring, Mexico has a good future ahead of them. Having said that, I thought this document was very much one-sided. It pretty much talks about positive things and ignores the inevitable conflicts that could happen in modernization.

Chapter 3 in the Dawson’s book emphasizes on emancipation, racism, and gender  The chapter first talks about the definition of a “citizen” and the qualifications vary. Latin America in particular had a difficult time getting a clear definition of a citizen especially that they are now independent republics.

The chapters discusses emancipation (freedom from slavery). It talks about how freedom from slavery took a long time. Emancipation varied from each country in Latin America. Additionally, they talk about racism, how people of color were treated and discriminated in Latin America. The U.S. was also brought up which I found interesting. Dawson even refers to the scientists, Charles Darwin and Carolus Linnaeus on their views and arguments on how & why people have distinguished skin colors.  At that time, people believed that your position in the social hierarchy depended on your race. Also if you marry someone of a different color than you, you’re  either promoted or demoted in the hierarchy depending your spouse’s skin color. The majority of slaves in Latin America happened to be people of African descent.

Getting to the part of gender in this chapter, two women; Maria Echenique and Josefina Pelliza were discussed and passages written by them were shown. Echenique was a feminist, while Pelliza was anti-feminist. Both made very good arguments about their views.  Pelliza’s tone in her passage showed that she was strongly against feminism and that women and men should not be equal. She argues that women are meant to be caregivers and they are the man’s other half. Though Pelliza’s views were mostly provocative, she made a good point on how women should embrace their true nature and their femininity.

First, I will talk about the wooden leg of Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. I thought it was weird and funny how they talk about Santa Anna’s leg in the beginning of the chapter. Also, I liked that his leg is hold a symbol for both the North Americans and the Mexicans. To the North Americans, they leg symbolizes Mexico’s inferiority in controlling their destiny, while to the Mexicans it symbolizes a disaster caused by “their northern neighbors” (Dawson, p.47). It made me think that Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, the Mexican President, is a significant person in Latin American history. After all he is a Caudillo

Caudillos were important people in the 19th century, they are described to be strong men and political leaders. They were all about defending their interests and the interests of their supporters (p.48). Not only was Santa Anna, the caudillo of Mexico talked about, but other caudillos in each Latin America were also discussed (eg. Ramon Castilla of Peru, Rafael Carrera of Guatemala, etc.). Though the era of the Caudillos was also about fighting for their people, this did lead to national disasters. After reading this, I do have mixed feeling towards the Caudillos. I feel they were somewhat heroic at the same time some of them caused trouble.