Many of Latin America's 19th-century thinkers and writers were deeply concerned with the project of nation building. How did they envision the identities (either cultural or political) of these new nations?
Before Latin America gained its independence, authors were writing about how Latin America must politically and culturally transform to defeat Spain and gain their independence. Bolivar in “The Jamaica Letter” wants the nation to unite. He believes together Latin America will be a nation that can gain its independence. Bello in “Ode to Agriculture” calls for a cultural transformation. He criticizes the people of Latin America for selling their land to people of Spain. He suggests that the people of Latin America need to stop conforming to ideals of other countries, become their own nation, and live in a land of nature and beauty rather than material goods and lust. After Latin America gains its independence the country falls into chaos. Sarmiento is writing at a time when cities are filled with villains and brutal dictators while plains are filled with free roaming gauchos. Sarmiento in the first chapter of “Facundo” is worried about how the lifestyles of Latin Americans are decreasing. Sarmiento does not like where Latin America is heading, culturally or politically. He is worried about the chaos and the dictators. People in cities are completely separate from people in plains. There is no collective society and therefore no government. People in cities are interested in material goods and a life of luxury. Religion has become corrupt. Boys are becoming physically but not intellectually strong. Marti in “Our America” stresses similar points as Sarmiento and Bello. Marti rejects the influence of other nations. He believes it is time for Latin America to come together, get back to their old cultural ways, and form their own government without the influence of any other country. Finally Dario’s “To Roosevelt” suggests that Latin America has finally built a foundation for a great nation, and that Latin America will soon rise and become very powerful.
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You're certainly on the right track here. Keep in mind though that writers like Sarmiento are more immediately concerned with their national context (in his case, Argentina) than with any pan-American cause. Also, take note of the shift that Martà marks when compared to Sarmiento. Think of the way Sarmiento views the city and European influence as compared to MartÃ's concept of the 'natural man'. There is a marked shift in the way that they think of 'civilization' and 'babarism.' Take a look at the Williamson reading that I put up on the conference.
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