Cold War In Central America: 1945-1989

A. Crisis in Central America Central American Common Market of 1960 Economic recession of 1975 The Exceptional case of Costa Rica Military Intervention and occasional elections Playing field in the Cold War

Reading Quiz 11 20 pts per question 1. What major change in regime indigenous policy is featured in Chapter 4? 2. What major change occurred during the 1960s in the Catholic Church? 3. How did these changes play out in Paraguay? 4. Who accused the regime of genocide? 5. What role did anthropologists play in this chapter?

B. Cold War and Latin America, 1945-1980 First State: Military aid to shape int. policies of L. Am. nations: 1951- 38.5 mill Second Stage Cold War: 1955-1969: fought in developing world Third Stage: 1970-1981: attempts to prevent social revolutions Fourth Stage: 1982-1989: force as policy tool, covert activities

C. Specific Countries

1. El Salvador 1969 Soccer War with Honduras Military rule during 1970s Social disparity and $ crisis Church-State Confrontation Archbishop Oscar Romero

Romero Citation “As pastor and as a Salvadoran citizen, I am deeply grieved that the organized sector of our people continues to be massacred merely for taking to the street in orderly fashion to petition for justice and liberty. I am sure that so much blood and so much pain caused to the families of so many victims will not be in vain. It is blood and pain that will water and make fertile new and continually more numerous seeds—Salvadorans who will awaken to the responsibility they have to build a more just and human society—and that will bear fruit in the accomplishment of the daring, urgent, and radical structural reforms that our nation needs. This people’s cry for liberation is a shout that rises up to God and that nothing and no one can now stop.”

Romero Citation Continued When some fall in the struggle, provided it be with sincere love for the people and in search of a true liberation, we should consider them always present among us—not only because they stay in the memory of those who continue their struggles, but also because the transcendence of our faith teaches us that the body’s destruction does not end human life. Rather we hope that after death by God’s mercy we humans will achieve full and absolute liberation. Temporal liberations will always have to be imperfect and transitory. They are sound and are worth struggling for only insofar as they reflect on this earth the justice of God’s kingdom. Archbishop Oscar Romero January 1979

1980 Assassination of Archbishop Romero, 24 Mr Film: Romero 1981 FMLN Farabundo Marti Front for Nat. Liberation El Escandon battle, US opposition, CIA intervention José Napoleón Duarte Coup in 1979, Civilian President Ju 1984 and June 1989. Massacre of Highland Indigenous Peoples

2. Honduras

Honduras Underdeveloped, but more equitable land distribution 1963 Military rule, then populist government in 1972 1980, 1981 Free democratic elections Militarization of Guatemalan society by US

Historical Sources The Stroessner Regime and Indigenous Resistance Ch. 4 Integration Turns to Exclusion

3. Guatemala Jorge Ubico, Dictator 1931-1945 United Fruit Co., John Foster Dulles, Allen Dulles, Anne Whitman Juán Arévalo (peaceful revolution 1945-1951 Jacobo Arbenz 1951, 1952 Agrarian Reform Law

CIA Intervention CIA, Castillo Armas, Counter-revolution 7/1954, reign terror Massacres early 1980s to prevent popular organization 1985 elections “final step in reestablishment of democracy in Guatemala 1990 elections: draw between right-wing candidates (neo-liberal) Galeano: Open Veins, 113-115

4. Nicaraguan Revolution FSLN Sandinistas in power (1979-1990) redistributed 1/5 land Iran-Contra Scandal (19 million to Contras), war based Honduras March 1983 invasion by Somocistas, CIA, crushed by 1986 Ja 1985, Popular Elections of won by Daniel Ortega of FSLN 1990 Election, Violeta Chamorro of UNO Regime

5. The Cuban Revolution Fulgencio Batista, 1933-1944, 1952-1959 Fidel Castro, Sierra Maestra Mts., Nationalism, Anti-imperialism

The Most Controversial Revolution Confiscation 1 billion US property and investments Education: teachers tripled, schools quintupled, illiteracy disappeared Education free through university; In 1973, 28 million books published All medical services free, life expectancy and health improved dramatically Public housing better than every before Arts and athletics, painting, literature, music flourished, Nat. Ballet Elite and middle classes fled the country Some repression and limitations of assembly, free speech, publication All Cubans enjoyed necessities of life, impressive standard of living Cuba’s economy boomed; growth 9-10% annually Heavy dependency on the U.S.S.R. for sugar market and military

Conclusions The controversial results of the Cold War in Central America