why is there no united states of latin america?

Question

I was reading in my latin american history class that the latin countries would have had the the option to work together and create one huge united states of latin america, like we did in USA, but even bigger and more successul if everyone worked together. It seems to me, not to be racist, but as í´ve visited a lot of latin countries, and am currently in spain, that spanish heritage people tend to like to be arguementative and fight. Is this true, and is this why there is no united states of latin america?

Answer 1

I don't about the whole United States of Latin America, but husband is Puerto Rican and from my understanding, most latin cultures believe they are better than others. Like for instance, my husband always tells me that Puerto Ricans and Mexicans don't get along. He also says that Mexicans aren't considered Latin, so I don't know if that counts. Most latin cultures are just too proud to work together!

Answer 2

There were several large republics similar to The US in Latin America. The two biggest ones were the Great Colombia, which was integrated by Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Panama and Ecuador.

This union of territories did not last much past its creation. As a matter of fact, Simon Bolivar (the South American George Washington) was still alive but dying when the dissolution of the Great Colombia started. The final departure was actually caused by the US. Teddy Roosevelt sent the Navy to blockade the Panamanian shores and prevent Colombian troops from landing. This was done so that American businesses could build the Panama Canal. Those were different times in politics.

The other example was the Central American Republic. From what I remember it was made up by Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras, and Salvador. That was a little more recent, I believe. I knwo little about its history.

What I do know is that there were many more regionalistic interests than at first meets the eye. Yes, the individual nations stood a better chance of being superpowers if they would just shut up and discuss instead of being like little children with toys. Yours. Mine. Go away, I'll play by myself.

There was (and still is) a lot of rancor between those countries. Colombians are very mistrustful of Venezuelans, and Salvadoreans hate Nicaraguans. It's just human nature.

The difference in the US is that each individual state was not an individual nation. The population expanded westward and the government of the US originally only covered the 13 Colonies. As population expanded westward there was no government to speak of other than the one brough by the expansion. Great Colombia's member nations each had its own bureaucracy, constitution, laws, etc. And there was no "glue" to hold them together other than the common origin of having been fomer Spanish colonies and hitherto liberated by Bolivar.

Incidentally, did you know thatthe official name of Mexico is United Mexican States? Yes, they are a federal nation with principles very similar to the US. So there.

Answer 3

Latin Americans fighed together against the Spanish. But after the independence the differences were stronger than what could possibly unify them. The US also had its participation. Panama used to be part of Colombia. The US wanted to buy a canal in Panama but the Colombian government reject the propose arguing that an US enclave inside Colombia would be an attemp against Colombian sovereignty. So the US gave guns and money to Panamanian rebels declare Panamanian independence.

Once you're separated, it's difficult to unify again. A smaller country would not want to unify with a bigger country cause it would mean a loss in power of decision. When you're a small independent state you can choose your president, but when you make part of a bigger country you have to accept their decision, cause they have more votes. When you're a richer country you will not want to unify with a poorer country.

Anyway, Latin America, specially South America is moving towards integration. Free trade agreements are beeing made and in many countries any restriction to immigration from other South American countries are beeing eliminated.

Anyway, I don't believe it's because of the Spanish heritage, it's simply that Spanish America was HUGE, the original US was shorter than Mexico.

In some years you'll see. Hopefully.

Answer 4

people have to put aside individual interests for a common goal.
usually it takes a common threat to get that started, and a superceding goal to keep it going.

The US was born out of a need for unity to remain independent of the UK. Even after our Rev War, Britain was stil lmaster of the seas, and stil lheld Canada and parts of the Carribean (among other places). The opportunities of trade and westward expansion kept the union going, and the Civil War was its final test of whether it would stay as one or not.

The EU grew slowly from the Common Market - a post-WWII entity formed by small BeBeLux nations to compete economically. Other pan-European orgs and treaties came about (1) to prevent yet another continent-wide war and (2) in the face of the USSR, which had a de facto expansion westard post-war by occupying Eastern Europe. Pan-European ideals and competition in the world economy were values that have continued it.

The various Latin American ventures have never had a sinlge, cohesive goal to attain. other than an abstract pan-Latinism that never caught on. Mecosur may be the most successful, and it may grow. Anti-US sentiment has never materialized enough to be a singular threat, but it could happen.

Answer 5

City O has an interesting point of view. In fact Mexico it is a republic and the official name its ESTADOS UNIDOS MEXICANOS. There is a union of 31 states and one Distrito Federal. (like a DC) The reason why Mexico is not rich its because all the past presidents have robed the country of all its treasures including OIL. So bottom line if you are getting ahead, some envious person will make sure to take you down.

Answer 6

Why is there no United States of Arabia, or Eastern Asia, or Europe? Because that's the norm. USA is an exception. Groups of people cannot eliminate other groups of people without losing some of their own in most cases, so they remained as different groups (in this case, as countries). As in America, the white men went to the continent and defeated the tribes there, because it was spears and arrows against guns and rifles. So they conquered it all, because they could.

Answer 7

The first step is to get the liberals out like Nov 2 then go after the states that allow the illegals to stay with open arms.Cut there funding.

Answer 8

because latin americans cant get along. they like to fight, youre right.

Answer 9

I think it will eventually happen.