1. The Latin Bloc

2. Locations Part of North America Caribbean Central America
South America

3. 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

4. Geographical Regions Baja California Yucatan Peninsula
Isthmus of Panama

5. Geographical Regions Amazon Basin Galapagos The Andes
The Argentine Pampas

6. The Caribbean
Bodies of Water
Panama Canal
Amazon River

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

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

9. Characteristics: Languages
Spanish
Portuguese
French

10. Characteristics: Religions
Catholic

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

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

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

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

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

16. 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

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

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

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