Includes bibliographical references (p. 300-302) and index.

Introduction -- The founding of a new political system -- The economic and social dimensions -- Mexico in decline (1821-1855) -- Andean South America to midcentury : consolidation of independence -- The road to dictatorship in the Platine area -- The rise of the Brazilian monarchy (1822-1850) -- Latin America at midcentury : a quickening pace of change -- The heyday of liberal reform in Spanish America (1850-1880) : Mexico and Columbia -- The heyday of liberal reform in Spanish America (1850-1880) : Argentina, Chile, and some other cases -- The flowering and decline of the Brazilian Empire (1850-1885) -- The Caribbean vortex in the nineteenth century : Cuba and Central America -- The liberal legacy and the quest for development.

Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, Mich. : Scholarly Pub. Office, University of Michigan, 2008. Mode of access: World Wide Web. Made available through the ACLS Humanities E-Book. Title from title screen; description based on content as of August 23, 2008. Access restricted to licensed institutions. Also available in print.