The first Industrial Revolution, occurred from about 1760 to 1830 in Europe and the U. S. which led to incredible changes in everyday life, particularly in the unprecedented rise of the living standards and income, and let to its consideration as the most important event in the history of humanity since agriculture and animal husbandry.
However, at the same time that this was occurring in the western world, Imperial Spain still ruled its colonies in the Americas until the mid 1820s, after which they broke off in the Latin American Wars of Independence.
Now my question was, did these Latin American countries ever manage at any point after their independence to undergoe an industrial revolution and modernization efforts and lastly, what did industrialization in Latin America look like?
Hi! Latin American here (Brazilian) so taking the short answer: The growth of industry started happening on my contry about to 100 years after the Industrial Revolution in Europe.
The economy until then, was most based of Coffe and Sugar Cane exportations suported by african slaves. In 1822 Brazil declares independence wich facilitate things a little because Portugal doesn't allowed the development of the industry (probably fearing some sort of Revolution)Then came the Royal Portuguese Family to Brazil (running away from Napoleon) and started opening the country, lifting this restritions. But after the Independence, Brazil still had his agrarian economy. Things started changed with the coming of imigrants (most of then, Italians) with the know-how on industry. Then in 1888 we have the Abolition of the slavery (i believe we, sadly were the last country with legalized slavery in the western world) wich definitly set the need of changes in the economy. One year later we became a Republic (until then it was the Brazilian Empire or Império do Brasil) and with this we have a new urban social class of consumers. Advancing to the WWI, we were struggling with the difficulty of importing industrialized products. That helped the process, serving as an incentive for or own industries.
The process of industrialization of all the country began really on the 30's when Vargas (the president at the time) negotiate with the US the building of the first Steelwork (ou Siderúrgica) in Brazil (It started its production only on 1947).
In 1950 we have the first Brazilian industrial pole on the city of São José dos Campos. After that we have the Economic Miracle (Milagre Econômico) that relates to the Economic growth cause by the Industrialization, that leads to the building of several Hydroeletric Usines (Taipu being the largest and most important) resulting on the development, industrialization and urbanization of all regions on the country. (this happening on the 60' to 70's). The result of that: in 2017 we became the tenth largest industrial park in the world. Pretty good dont you think?
So i guess thats summarizes all. Or industry before the Steelwork was still tiny to say the best . The Independence, the Republic, changes of social order, imigrants and War are the Key factors to understand the whole thing. Sorry for any typos, i hope It helped you.