The Latin Bloc

Locations Part of North America Caribbean Central America South America

Part of North America Mexico Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, Belize, Guatemala, Panama, Costa Rica Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, The Bahamas, others Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Chile, Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina, Guyana, Suriname Caribbean Countries Central America South America

Geographical Regions Baja California Yucatan Peninsula Isthmus of Panama

Geographical Regions Amazon Basin Galapagos The Andes The Argentine Pampas

The Caribbean Bodies of Water Panama Canal Amazon River

Characteristics: Political Hugo Chavez Venezuela New Democracies (leaning socialist) . . . Except Cuba Evo Morales Bolivia Luis da SIlva Brazil

Developing & Semi-developed Nations Characteristics: Economic Developing & Semi-developed Nations

Characteristics: Languages Spanish Portuguese French

Characteristics: Religions Catholic

A Brief History of Latin America Independence from Spain and Portugal in the 1820’s Simon Bolivar

In the American Sphere of Influence from 1880’s American Economic Control

American intervention: U.S. helps overthrow dictators & Socialist leaders Panama, 1989 Haiti, 1994 Chile, 1973 Cuba, 1961 . . . ALMOST

Falklands War British Falkland Islands “retaken” by Argentina in 1982 British retake the Islands

Democracy takes hold in the 1990’s Leftist leaders elected Pro-Cuba Anti-American

THE CUBA QUESTION Turned Communist in the late 50’s U.S. embargo since the 60’s Cuban Missile Crisis 1962 Permanent U.S. military presence at Guantanamo Hero to many Latin Americans for resisting U.S. influence

Major Organizations Organization of American States (OAS) Promote democracy and prosperity North American Free Trade Association NAFTA promotes economic growth

Values Democracy Independence from foreign (especially American) influence Economic Development

Influence The Latin Bloc has relatively low influence in international affairs Major Challenges: Drug Trafficking & Deforestation