1. Chapter 32 Latin America in the 20th Century
AP World History Ms. Sheets University High School

2. Latin America After WWII
WWII was not a critical event; LA only moderately involved (Brazil aided US steel industry)
New definitions:
First World: capitalist industrialized nation
Second World: communist industrialized nation
Third World: developing nations, usually less economically powerful
Latin America, despite regional variety, mostly fits the Third World definition because of its slow industrialization and lingering reliance on Western markets.
Post-WWII: surge of radical socialist unrest (Bolivia, Guatemala, Cuba)

3. Mexico and the PRI
1930s – 2000: Mexico controlled by Party of Institutionalized Revolution (PRI).
PRI becomes corrupt and repressive
1994: Zapatistas emerged (guerilla movement) but were put down by the PRI.
1994: Mexico joined the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
US; Canada; Mexico
Make North American trade competition for European markets; strengthen North American markets
2000: Vicente Fox (National Action Party: PAN) won national election

4. 1954 Guatemalan Coup
Guatemala’s struggles: illiteracy; poor health; high mortality; land and wealth unfairly distributed; economy depends entirely on bananas and coffee
President Jacobo Árbenz ( ) used programs that conflicted with American companies in Guatemala (esp. United Fruit Company).
Decree 900: Guatemalan land reform act (redistributed land to peasants; increased cultivation and moved Guatemalan economy to capitalism)
US CIA invaded Guatemala to overthrow Árbenz and installed a pro-US government.
Construed Decree 900 as communist threat
Banana Republic (new American-backed military government) reversed land reform.

5. Cuban Revolution ( )
Cuba was dependent on American imports and the export of sugar.
US is leading trade partner with Cuba
Disparity between middle classes and lowest classes grows; rural areas lag behind
: Fulgencio Batista ruled Cuba as military dictator.
Little actual reform; opposition movements rise
Fidel Castro (young lawyer) and Ernesto “Che” Guevara (militant Argentinian revolutionary) joined in Mexico to create a small force to overthrow Batista.
Pledge real democracy, justice, freedom
1959: “26th of July Movement” drove Batista from power while rebels take Havana
Support from students, labor organizations, and rural workers.

6. Castro and Cuban Socialism
Castro made Cuba a socialist state
Restrictions on social freedoms; critics were exiled
Collective farms, confiscated property of American businessmen, eliminate all private property
US was beginning to dislike Batista because of his excesses, but now Castro is no better
1961: US and Cuba cut off relations with each other.
Castro aligns Cuba with USSR; Cuba needed the support
What US feared is now true: Soviet intrusion in W. Hemisphere
Bay of Pigs (1961): U.S.-sponsored intervention by Cuban exiles to overthrow Castro failed
Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)
USSR installed missiles in Cuba to taunt the US as retaliation for Bay of Pigs
US demanded missiles be moved, Soviets did not, US sent ships to Cuba, Soviet ships arrive  Brinkmanship
Cuba became increasingly dependent on the Soviet Union throughout the Cold War.

7. Quick Review Question
Why does the United States promote the overthrow of Guatemalan President Árbenz in 1954?
What figures helped to promote the Cuban Revolution?

8. The U.S. and Latin America
After WWI, US is dominant power in West.
Private investments by U.S. companies and loans from the government were the chief means of influence
1937: FDR’s Good Neighbor Policy
Promised to deal more fairly with Latin America and stop direct interventions; ignored during the Cold War.
1961: Alliance for Progress launched by US
Aimed to develop regions and eliminate radical political solutions
1970s: US cedes Panama Canal to Panama
After 2000, US concerns with Latin America continued to focus on issues of commerce, immigration, the drug trade, and political stability.
Armed drug lords and cartels that threaten Latin American global stability

9. U.S. Military Interventions, 1898-2000
US intervened in Latin America to protect investments and contain communism.
More than 30 interventions before 1933
After interventions, US helped to create Banana Republics
Conservative governments (often corrupt dictatorships) that would be friendly to the US and US financial interests.
Called this because of dependence on export of tropical products (Guatemala)
Foreign intervention created a growing nationalist reaction.

10. Latin American Militaries
To counter socialism and protect investments, US supported authoritarian military regimes.
Military officers saw themselves as above politics and best equipped to solve nation's ills; remnant of post-colonial past in 19th century with caudillos
In Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and Peru, governments were taken over by military-based rulers with repressive authoritarian and nationalistic inclinations.
Military government economic policies hurt the working class: land ownership and social conditions remained unchanged.
1970s and 1980s: Increase in democratization and return to civilian governments in Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Panama
Leftist rebel groups continued to agitate in some of them, as in Columbia and Peru.
Economies continued to struggle: inflation a common problem.
Large foreign loans taken in 1970s threatened economic stability in Brazil, Peru and Mexico.
Despite difficulties, by the 1990s it appeared democratic trends were well established.

11. Latin American Culture
Latin America remains an amalgamation of cultures and peoples.
Vast majority are Catholic, but Protestants are growing.
Liberation theology: Catholicism and Socialism joined to create change
Art: return to traditional culture for inspiration and social commentary (Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo)
Writers gained world recognition, especially those who penned social criticism.
Dance: tango; salsa; samba; rumba; mambo; paso doble
The struggle for social justice, economic security and political equality still exists.
Distribution of wealth and land is arguably largest problem
1948: United Nations issued “Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” but included little power of enforcement beyond diplomatic or moral pressure.

12. Latin American Gender and Migration
Women were not allowed to vote until 1929
Ecuador is first nation to grant women’s suffrage
Feminist movements pushed for inclusion into elected offices
Industrial jobs expanded to include women.
Shifts in attitudes about women’s roles in society developed more slowly
Migration
Over 30% of the population of Latin America falls under the poverty line  contributes to legal and illegal immigration to the US.
Political refugees; search for job opportunities
Migration rural to urban areas is extremely high.
Slums in major cities (Mexico City; Rio de Janeiro)
Migration is major and complicated regional issue
Rapid and massive urban growth
1999: Latin America is greatest urbanized region in all developing locations

13. Quick Review Question What is a Banana Republic?
What two forms of a government does Latin America tend to see?
What are modern problems that exist in Latin America today?