These states were dominated by military chieftains, by _caudillos_. From barbarism and periodic anarchy proceeded the Dictators. We shall be able to study some of the representative personalities of this period, and to disentangle from the monotonous development of events the history of certain nations, such as {17} Brazil, in which the social medley has been dominated by the principle of authority. In the Argentine, Brazil, Mexico, Peru, and Chili we shall perceive a new industrial order, by means of which political life grows less disturbed and the _caudillos_ lose their authority (Books I. and II.). The study of intellectual evolution shows us how great is the power of ideology in these rising democracies. They imitate the French Revolution; they submit themselves to the influence of the ideas of Rousseau and the Romantics, and of the doctrines of the individualists. America, Spanish and Portuguese by origin, is becoming French by culture (Book III.). Here we proceed to the study of the part played by the Latin spirit in the formation of these peoples, and the perils which threaten them, whether these proceed from the United States, from Germany, or from Japan, and to consider the faults and the qualities of this spirit (Book IV.). Then follows an analysis of the problems and the future of Latin America (Book V.). The conclusion to be drawn from this examination is that the political life of the Ibero-American peoples is as yet chaotic, but that some of them have already cast off the fetters of an unfortunate heredity. Across the ocean liberty and democracy are steadily becoming realities. In the battles of the future the support of America will be valued by the great peoples of the Mediterranean who are struggling for the supremacy of the Latin race. {19} CONTENTS PREFACE FOREWORD BOOK I CHAPTER I THE CONQUERING RACE Its psychological characteristics--Individualism and its aspects--The sentiment of equality--African fanaticism. CHAPTER II THE COLONIES OVERSEA The conquerors--The conquered races--The influence of religion in the new societies--Colonial life. CHAPTER III THE STRUGGLE FOR INDEPENDENCE I. Economic and political aspects of the struggles--Monarchy and the Republic--The leaders: Miranda, Belgrano, Francia, Iturbide, King Pedro I., Artigas, San Martin, Bolivar--Bolivar the Liberator: his ideas and his deeds. II. Revolutionary ideology--Influence of Rousseau--The rights of man--The example of the United States--English ideas in the constitutional projects of Miranda and Bolivar--European action: Canning--Nationalism versus Americanism. {20} CHAPTER IV MILITARY ANARCHY AND THE INDUSTRIAL PERIOD Anarchy and dictatorship--The civil wars: their significance--Characteristics of the industrial period. BOOK II CHAPTER I VENEZUELA: PAEZ--GUZMAN-BLANCO The moral authority of Paez--The Monagas--The tyranny of Guzman-Blanco--Material progress. CHAPTER II