6.02 Day 2

Reform and Independence

6.05

Republic of the Congo

Spanish troops are about to leave Puerto Rico to fight the American military during the Spanish-American War. After losing this war, Spain had to give up its colonies in Guam, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico to the United States.

In 1865 Puerto Rico was still a colony of Spain A commision suggested many reforms, but demaded that slavery be abolished first. The government knew of rebellions going on in neighboring countries and that influenced them to (after some resistance) grant reforms and abolish slavery. Puerto Rico established a constitutional government. When Spanish lost the Spanish-American War, the Spanish colony of Puerto Rico was given to America and remains a U.S. territory to this day.

Puerto Rico

Fun Fact: From 1900-1914 Brazil produced over 75% of the world's coffee

In 1894 Brazil's first civilian president came to power However, only the land-owning rich could vote. Most of these wealthy land-owners grew coffee. Therefore, the Brazil's president's became known as "coffee presidents", as they were controlled by the coffee growers. But in 1920, people started to protest this system. The protesters staged a coup (an overthrow) that caused 8 years of unrest. The protestors (called tenentes) wanted to modernize the economy with trade unions, a minimum wage, and child labor laws.

Brazil

The Regeneration Movement in Mexico took place in the late 1800s This movement was led by Ricardo Flores Magón The movement formed a manifesto that called for a on-term presidency, civil liberties, free public education, and land reform The movement was surpressed, but many of its reform goals became part of the Mexican consitution in 1917

Mexico