was latin american countries better off before or after independence?

Answer 1

I would have to say that towards the end of Spanish rule, Spain hadn't really been doing a good job of maintaining their colonies in the Americas and even in Asia. It is just like what happened in other countries that were under foreign rule. They started to realize what was going on and wanted to be free. So really, after the use to be colonies achieved what they wanted: independence, a lot of their governments weren't really good. Basically, I think they were better off being ruled by Spain.

Answer 2

Spain had lost control of their Latin American colonies after being conquered by France during their Revolution. The independence movements really never contained Spanish troops, just loyalists living in the colonies. After Spain was liberated by the British around 1814, the Spanish ditched their efforts to control Latin America. Socially they were much better off under Spanish control, as the dictatorships that sprouted up throughout the 19th and 20th centuries (and today in Venezuela) were worse than any Spanish-led government. In an economic sense, they are much better off independent - especially in the case of Argentina, who flourished in trade with the British.

Answer 3

Ian: socially they were much better under Spanish rule? What about the caste system and slavery?