Liberal vs. Conservative Ideology

During this time period politics in countries throughout Latin America were divided primarily into two camps: the Liberals and the Conservatives. Liberal ideology was generally followed by an emerging commercial class and their political representatives. They supported free trade, a separation of church and state, and other measures which were progressive for the period. Conservative parties tended to promote trade protectionism to shelter domestic industry, the involvement of the Church in secular affairs such as government, and limited suffrage.