Latin American Colonialism

Painting of of Rio de Janeiro from the church of the monastery of São Bento (Saint Benedictus).

View of Rio de Janeiro from the church of the monastery of São Bento (Saint Benedictus).
Johann Moritz Rugendas (1802–1858)

Even though Britain no longer had any colonies in America as a result of the American Revolution, both Spain and Portugal still maintained control of their Latin American colonies. In this topic, you will explore the structure of colonial society in these territories and look at how Spain and Portugal dominated the indigenous societies.

Essential Questions

  • What were the characteristics of the colonial system in Latin America in the nineteenth century?
  • How did Spain and Portugal maintain control of their Latin American domains?