1. Latin American Political Systems and Issues Today
Cypress Woods HS
World Geography

2. History of Political Systems
Most Latin American countries were ruled by caudillos until the later part of the 20th century.
Caudillos were either military dictators and men kept in power by the support of the military.
They were often absolute rulers.
Some important caudillos included Simon Bolivar of Venezuela and Juan Peron of Argentina. Fidel Castro of Cuba can also be considered a modern day caudillo.
Simon Bolivar
Juan and Eva Peron

3. Political Systems Today
World in 1965, blue is democratic,
red is some form of populist dictatorship
Latin America has become
increasingly democratic
World in 2003, blue is democratic,
red is some form of populist dictatorship

4. Question Which countries in Latin America are not democracies?
Cuba and Venezuela
Cuba is a communist dictatorship
Venezuela is socialist

5. Cuba and Castro
Though Fidel has stepped down from power and handed day to day control to his brother Raul, he still runs the country.

6. Cuba
What do you think will happen to Cuba once Castro dies? Will it become a democracy? Stay communist?

7. New Cuban Policy
President Obama has recently stated that the U.S. needs to change its outdated policy towards Cuba. Although many segments of society agree, not everyone agrees.
Click on pics to see
videos

8. Venezuela
A socialist country, was controlled by Hugo Chavez from 1999 until his death in Most of its wealth comes from oil. Has strong ties to other leftist countries like Bolivia and Cuba.

9. Successful Democracies
The “cone” countries of Chile, Argentina and Uruguay are the most successful countries in South America. They have strong economies and are considered democratic. Brazil is beginning to do well also.
Presidents of Argentina, Chile &
Brazil

10. Important World Leaders from Latin America
First Native American president of Latin America, Evo Morales of Bolivia.
First Roman Catholic pope
from the Americas, Francis of
Argentina.

11. Drug War

12. Colombia to Mexico
Since the 1990s, the control of Latin America’s drug trade has moved from Colombia to Mexico, primarily due to the defeat of the cartels and destruction of the coca crops by government forces.

13. Drug War
According to this political cartoon, what role does the U.S. play in the drug war?
Click on cartoon above to see LA Times
Special report on the Mexican drug war

14. Drug War
Click on map to see how drugs flow throughout the U.S.

15. Drug War
What can be done to end the drug war in the U.S.? What have some states recently done to combat it?
Click on map to see video

16. Drug Abuse
States in red have most problems with drugs