1. Latin American Democracies

2. Democracy Democracy is government by the people.
The US has an indirect democracy.
Participation by the nation’s citizens is essential for a democracy to work.

3. Conditions that Foster Those Practices
Common Practices
Conditions that Foster Those Practices
Free Elections
Having more than one political party
Universal suffrage – all adult citizens can vote
Citizen Participation
High levels of education and literacy
Economic security
Freedoms of speech, press, and assembly
Majority Rule, Minority Rights
All citizens equal before the law
Shared national identity
Protection of such individual rights as freedom of religion
Representatives elected by citizens to carry out their will
Constitutional Government
Clear body of traditions and laws on which government is based
Widespread education about how government works
National acceptance of majority decisions
Shared belief that no one is above the law

4. Democracy Three Factors that advance democracy
Rights and equal treatment of individual
Law helps keep leaders from abusing power
Sense of national identity

5. Dictators to Democracy
Europe and the US dominated Latin American economy and politics
Brazil had a monarchy when they gained independence
A republic government then dictatorship followed

6. Dictators to Democracy
Kubitschek put Brazil into a lot of debt because he wanted to make Brazil progress too fast
Brazil’s military dictators looked to the Amazon jungle for economic growth
Since the 1980s Brazil’s leaders have been chosen by direct election

7. Mexico
Mexico has a constitution which prevents direct military involvement in politics – very different from rest of Latin America.
The National Revolutionary Party has dominated politics in Mexico.
Fraud and corruption keeps opposing political parties from competing in Mexico.

8. Mexico
The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) removed trade barriers between the US, Mexico, and Canada.

9. Argentina
By the late 1990s Argentina was the only Latin American country not under democratic rule.
In 1946 Juan Peron won the presidency then established a dictatorship.
The military ruled Argentina following Peron.

10. Argentina
Several thousand Argentines disappeared in the 1980s – kidnapped by their government.
The military government finally stepped down in 1982 after a humiliating defeat by the British.