1. Chapter 29: Latin America, 1945-Present

2. Key Ideas
Since 1945, there has much political, economic and social unrest in Latin America
Economic failure led to authoritarian and military rule
Great social inequality, wide gap between rich and poor
(land = power)
1980s and 1990s showed movement towards democratization in many nations
*Costa Rica – long history of a stable democratic gov’t
COSTA RICA

3. Latin American Exports
Bananas
Cattle
Coffee
Copper
Fish
Oil
Sugar cane
Tobacco
Wheat

4. Religion Liberation Theology Clergy
church leaders become proponents of social reform
Priests and nuns struggled against oppressive military regimes

5. Argentina 1900, richest nation in LA, but was
devastated by the Great Depression
1946,military coup brings Juan Peron (dictator) to power
Promises of stability, gains support
Limited foreign-owned business by promoting imports substitution
local manufacturers produce goods at home to replace imported products
Began great social reforms but huge debts lead to being overthrown by a military coup in 1955
, “Dirty war”
Military arrested, tortured, and killed thousands of political dissidents (HRV 20,000 die)
“Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo” win worldwide attention
Democracy restored in 1983

6. Guatemala
, Civil War
Between military gov’t and landowners and the indigenous (locals) 30,000 die (HRV)
1996, rebels gave up and peace was reached
Democratization

7. Nicaragua Somoza family rules from 1936-1979
Repressive, but close ties to US
Nicaraguan Revolution, 1979
Sandinistas (reform minded nationalists and communists (Marxist)) overthrow Somoza gov’t
Sandinistas in power
Government resembled a communist government
Closer ties to Cuba
Contras
opposite of Sandinistas, a counter revolutionary group (supported by the USA)
Civil War between the two groups
Economically devastating, death
1990, Sandinistas hand over power to a freely elected president

8. Mexico Post-WWII Success and Troubles
Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI)-ruled between (due to the Mexican Revolution)
1970s, new oil fields and high energy prices meant economic boom
1980s brought world recession, a time when business is poor, oil prices fell and Mexico went into debt
Never enough jobs; urbanization, slums
The gap between rich and poor remained
Upper – European
Poor – Mestizo, Native American, African
Population explosion – not enough land to grow food
Demands for change  Vicente Fox elected president, end to PRI rule

9. Mexico Links with the US 1950s, Organization of American States (OAS)
Cooperation and peaceful resolution
Formed to strengthen democracy, promote human rights, confront problems of poverty, terrorism, illegal drugs, and corruption
NAFTA
Remove trade barriers between Mexico, US, Canada
Promote investment and economic growth in Mexico

10. Panama Corruption Panama Canal
Late 1980s, Panamanian leader, Manuel Noriega, suspected of helping criminal gangs called cartels smuggle drugs into the US
1989, US troops invade of Panama and arrest Noriega
More stability and democracy in 1990s
Panama Canal
Constructed in the early 1900s by America
Shortened travel time between Atlantic and Pacific Ocean
Panama assumed complete control on January 1, 2000

11. Cuba 1952, Batista gains power – repressive, corrupt
1959, Fidel Castro overthrows Fulgencio Batista with guerilla army and establishes a communist dictatorship
Supported by peasants who wanted change
Gov’t control of business and industry (socialist reforms)
Unequal distribution of wealth
Standard of living rises for many, however
Conflict with US
US trade embargo (economic sanctions)
Bay of Pigs Invasion
Cuban Missile Crisis
US naval blockade of Cuba
After fall of USSR, Cuba’s economy has suffered greatly

12. Chile 1973, Augusto Pinochet overthrows Salvatore Allende (Marxist)
Pinochet regime (military gov’t) most brutal in Chiles history
Opponents imprisoned, tortured, murdered (HRV)
Free elections in 1989, movement toward democracy and economic stability