Editing Caudillo (section)

===Southern Cone: Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay===
In contrast to most of Spanish America, post-independence Chile experienced political stability under the authoritarian rule of conservatives, backed by the landowning class. Although he never sought the presidency, cabinet minister [[Diego Portales]] (1793–1837) is credited with creating a strong, centralized regime that lasted 30 years. In general, Chile prospered with an export-oriented economy based on agriculture and mining, an exception to most of the Spanish-American regimes.<ref>[[#Henderson|Henderson]], pp. 125, 522.</ref>

In the former [[Viceroyalty of Río de la Plata]], political instability and violence were more typical of the era. In Argentina, [[Juan Manuel de Rosas]] (r. 1829–1852) dominated the Argentine confederation. He came from a wealthy landowning family, but also acquired large tracts of land in [[Buenos Aires Province]]. Rosas despised "the principles of political democracy and liberty [and] provided order in a region that had known near-anarchy since independence".<ref>[[#Henderson|Henderson]], p. 530.</ref>

During his two-decade reign, Rosas rose to power and created an empire. He used his military experience to gain support from [[gaucho]]s and estancias to create an army that would challenge the leadership of Argentina. After his rise to power using the rural workers, he changed his system in favor of using the military. He attempted to impose a ban on imported goods to help and win the support of the artisans in Argentina, but failed. He was forced to lift the ban on certain imports, like textiles, which opened a trade with Great Britain. Through his power over the imports and exports, the military, the police, and even the legislative branch of government, Rosas created a monopoly that would ensure his remaining in power for over two decades. By the 1850s, Rosas was under attack by the very people who had helped him gain power. He was driven out of power and eventually ended up in Great Britain, where he died in 1877.<ref>Meade, Teresa A. (2016) “Argentina and the Tyrants.” History of Modern Latin America: 1800 to the Present, 2nd ed., Wiley Blackwell. pp. 92–93. {{ISBN|1118772504}}</ref>

Uruguay attained independence from Brazil and Argentina and was ruled by [[Fructuoso Rivera]]. In Paraguay, [[José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia]] (r. 1814–1840) was Supreme Dictator of the Republic, maintaining the landlocked country's independence from Argentina and other foreign powers. Sealed off from outside trade, Paraguay developed economic self-sufficiency under Francia. He based society on communal properties, rather than centralized authoritarianism, attempting to revert to the methods of the communal Indian society that existed previously in Paraguay.<ref name=m93>Meade, Teresa A. (2016) “Populist Caudillismo: Paraguay and Bolivia.” History of Modern Latin America: 1800 to the Present, Wiley Blackwell, p. 93. {{ISBN|1118772504}}</ref> 

After independence, the state gained control of the land which was once under control of the Church and the Spanish state. Francia created state ranches and rented out land for the use of citizens who were able to pay a fee. Francia's repressive measures included crushing the power of the elite American-born Spaniards and curbing the power of the Roman Catholic Church. Francia allowed for religious freedom and abolished the tithe. He actively encouraged miscegenation.<ref>[[#Henderson|Henderson]], pp. 465–66.</ref>

He has been a controversial figure in Hispanic American history: many modern historians credit him with bringing stability to Paraguay, preserving independence, and "bequeathing to his successors an egalitarian, homogeneous nation".{{Cn|date=May 2024}} However, because of his crackdown on the wealthy elite and the subsequent weakening of their power, he was accused of anti-clericalism. Nevertheless, Paraguay prospered under Francia in terms of economics and trade through a trade route with Buenos Aires, which was opposed by the wealthy Argentinian elites.<ref>[[#Henderson|Henderson]], pp. 465–66.</ref> "Sometimes counted among the dictators of the era, contemporary history has viewed Francia as an honest, populist leader who promoted sovereign economic prosperity in a war-torn Paraguay."<ref name=m93/>