Why did democracy succeed in North America and not in Latin America?

[JockSporran]

This is not a history question and I am not a student. It's something that has always puzzled me.

The British colonies, led by George Washungton, fought for independence and became the USA. After Washington was voted out, he accepted his loss and went home. Democracy prevailed.

The Spanish colonies in South America, led by Simon Bolivar, fought for independence and became Great Colombia. After the resignation and death of Bolivar, generals of the provinces fought each other. The country split into different countries, each under a military dictator.

Why? Is there some difference between the peoples of North and South America?

[jake-the-peg]

I think it's more a case that the US was a very special case.

Revolutions tend to produce power vacuums and are almost inevitably filled by dictators in the immediate aftermath.

In the UK Cromwell tried various experiments but ended up making himself Protector.

In France you had Robespierre and the Great Terror followed by Napoleon.

Russia of course

Even in more modern times you had Civil wars following independance.

For example the Irish Civil war (that killed more than in the troubles) immediately following the establishment of the Free State, and the violence in India immediately follwing independance there.

Of course there was a Civil war in the US after independance, it just took 60 years or so to happen.

Personally I think it was that there was an existing tradition of democratic Government in North America and that was strong enough to hold the partisan sides of North and South together for a surprisingly long time.

I certainly don't think it was anything inherent in the people of North America they had a very diverse background

[jno]

Washington wasn't voted out, he retired voluntarily - he hadn't really wanted to serve a second term and refused to run for a third. This did set a good example, though.

[beso]

Allende was a democratically elected leader in Chile. However the US didn't like him because he wanted what was best for Chile. So they killed him and installed the Dictator Pinochet.

[rojash]

If Democracy means "government of the people, for the people, by the people" then the US falls at the first hurdle. After all the absolute MOST important qualification before even considering running for President is that one must be extraordinarily wealthy, and have a lot of extraordinarily wealthy backers.

[Colmc54]

Three Cs.

Catholicism, Cold War, and Corruption. That's it.

[Colmc54]

Listen to me! Only 3 Cs when surely Cocaine should have been the fourth. But let's not forget the other letter. Not C but F for football.

I really hope a South American side wins the World Cup. My son's wife is Columbian and they have a little baby now called Mia. As her Granpa I would say 'Go Columbia!