1. Post WWII Latin America Double Standards & Hypocrisy

2. Democracy= ????

3. Problems with Independence Strong Military Weak Economy—dependent on single cash crops Weak Social Structure—large gap between the rich & poor All of these problems lead to instability

4. Brazil 1822-1964 Monarchy from independence in 1822-1889 1889-1930s Republic controlled by the wealthy 1930-1945 Getulio Vargas ruled as a dictator but modernized the nation 1945 Democratic Constitution established, followed by economic growth 1964 Military seizes power, state controlled economy

5. Brazil 1974-1989 1974 General Geisel introduces democratic reforms 1982 Brazil stops paying it’s foreign debt 1986 Democratic elections held 1988 New constitution limits presidential powers 1989 First direct elections held but economic problems continue

6. Brazil 1992-present 1992 Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro 1994 Cardoso elected president, admits existence of slavery 2000 500 th Anniversary celebrations, indigenous Indians claim genocide continues 2002 Brazil wins 5 th World Cup Title 2010 First woman elected President 2011 Road connecting Peru’s Pacific coast to Brazil’s Atlantic coast opens

7. Mexico 1917-1940 Relatively stable for most of the 20 th century 1917 Constitution organized a democratic government 1920-1934 Several generals from the National Revolutionary Party elected president 1934-1940 President Cardenas tries to improve life for lower classes, nationalizes oil industry

8. Mexico 1940-1990s National Revolutionary Party becomes Institutional Reform Party, PRI Although elections are held the PRI uses corruption to maintain power 1988 Salinas of the opposition party wins presidential election Salinas & Clinton sign NAFTA to allow free trade between US & Mexico

9. Mexico 1990s-today 1994 Rebellion in Chiapas begins 2000 PRI driven out of power with the election of Vincente Fox Fox attempted to reform the police & political corruption & end the revolt in Chiapas Illegal immigration from Mexico is an issue with US relations Drug cartels & violence also a problem along the border, especially in Juarez

10. Argentina 1939-1949 1939 Argentina neutral in WWII 1943 Military coup, favors Japan & Germany but breaks ties & declares war in 1945 1946 Gen. Juan Peron elected president by promising higher wages & social security, Eva Peron controls labor relationsEva Peron 1949 Disrespect to the government is outlawed & opposition newspapers suppressed

11. Argentina 1951-1974 1951 Gen. Peron re-elected in a landslideGen. Peron re-elected in a landslide 1952 Eva Peron dies of cancer 1955 Peron overthrown by a military coup, 1853 constitution reinstated 1966 Military coup 1973 Peronist candidate wins presidency, then resigns & Juan Peron takes office, again 1974 Juan Peron dies, his 3 rd wife, Isabel Peron, becomes 1 st woman president in the Western Hemisphere

12. Argentina 1975- today 1975 300% inflation destroys the economy 1976 Military coup, thousands “disappear” in the Dirty War against the dictatorship 1982 Falklands War lost to Great Britain 1983 Civilian government returns, investigation into “Dirty War” begins Economic problems continue Anti-Semitic terrorist acts continue to occur

13. Cuba 1959 Fidel Castro overthrows the unpopular but U.S. supported dictator, Fulgencio Batista Castro establishes a totalitarian dictatorship 1961 Bay of Pigs-U.S. trained rebels land in Cuba but fail to overthrow Castro without air support 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis-closest the world came to nuclear war

14. Nicaragua 1933 Somoza family rules Nicaragua as dictators 1979 Sandinistas overthrow the dictatorship Both US & USSR give aid to Daniel Ortega & the Sandinistas, until aid El Salvador is involved US then aids the anti-communist Contras 1990 free elections are held

15. El Salvador 1977 Gen. Carlos Romero elected president, leftist rebel group FMLN begins retaliation for attacks on peasants 1979-1981 30,000 people killed by right-wing government ‘death squads’ 1980 Archbishop of San Salvador & human rights advocate, Oscar Romero assassinated during mass 1980 1 st civilian president in 50 years elected

16. Summary Liberation Theology- priests & nuns have led many of the revolutions & human rights campaigns in Latin America because they work with the poor & they are educated Weak economies-poor infrastructure & little economic opportunity or growth Extremes in wealth- a few very wealthy families & majority live in grinding poverty Strong Military-frequent military coups prevent economic growth & therefore maintain the extremes in wealth