Aim: Political & Economic Change in Latin America Visualizing Global History Mr. Oberhaus Regents Review Unit 7 Section 7

Sources of Unrest Latin America is a diverse region with a great variety of peoples and cultures. Geographic barriers have discouraged unity, yet the nations of Latin America share similar problems. After World War II, political and social upheavals threatened stability in Latin America. Many Latin American nations looked to authoritarian leaders to provide solutions.

Argentina By the 1900s, Argentina was the richest nation in Latin America. The Great Depression of the 1930s devastated the country. A military coup brought Juan Peron to power in Juan Peron was a military Colonel. He appealed to Argentine Nationalism by limited foreign owned businesses. By boosted wages, strengthened labor unions, and began social welfare programs. His government was very repressive to the rights of the people. He was overthrown in a military coup in 1955.

State of Terrorism in Argentina In 1976, there was another military coup. The government began a program of “State Terrorism” against leftist guerrilla groups. In what became known as a “Dirty War” the military arrested, tortured, and killed thousands. Approximately 20,000 people simply disappeared. The Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo marched everyday demanding to be told what happened to their missing children. In 1983, elections were held in Argentina. A democratic government was returned to power. Today, Argentina’s economy is weak and there is much instability in the country.

Guatemala The United States help to overthrow Jacobo Arbenz in 1954 during the Cold War. Landowners and the military came to power. A Civil War broke out in Guatemala. As many as 30,000 indigenous Indians were killed. Rebels laid down their arms in 1996, when a peace accord was reached. The accord brought hope for increased rights for all citizens of Guatemala including the Indian population

Nicaragua From 1936 to 1979, the Somoza family had governed Nicaragua. The Somoza’s were repressive but had close ties to the United States because of their anti- communist stance. In 1979, the Sandinistas who were a group that included both reform minded nationalists and communists, overthrew the Somoza government. The leader was Daniel Ortega who drew an alliance with Cuba. In 1980, the Sandinistas faced opposition from the Contras. The United States supported the Contras. A civil war broke out between the two groups. In 1990, peace was reached and the Sandinistas gave up power to Violeta Chamorro who worked to rebuild the economy.

Mexico After the Mexican Revolution, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) dominated Mexico for 71 years (1960 – 2000) – In 1968, students in Mexico protested. The police and the military brutally suppressed the protests. – In 1994, armed Indian Zapatista rebels in the southern state of Chiapas demanded social and economic reforms. Their goals were not reached. – Many groups called for election reforms. In 2000, the PRI lost power. Vincente Fox became President. In 2006, Felipe Calderon became presidents. – In 2006, Calderon began a crackdown on Drug Cartels. The cartels fought back leading to widespread violence that continues today.

Causes of Unrest in Mexico Gap Between Rich & Poor Social Classes Population & Poverty Urban Growth Small group controls most of the wealth Wealthy people against reforms Upper classes descended from Europeans Poor people are the majority Population explosion Not enough land to grow food Migration of peasants to cities Slums and urban shacks Scarce jobs

Economic Links with the United States In the 1950s, the Organization of American States (OAS) was formed to strengthen democracy, promote human rights, and confront shared problems such as poverty, terrorism, illegal drugs, and corruption. 35 nations including Canada and the United States belonged. Cuba was kicked out in In the 1990s, Mexico, the U.S., and Canada sign the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Since the 1970s, millions of Mexicans have illegally crossed the US border to seek better economic opportunities.

Panama In the late 1980s, the United States suspected that Manuel Noriega was helping Drug Cartels to smuggle drugs into the United States. In 1989, the US Military invaded Panama and arrested Noriega. In the 1990s, Panama experienced greater stability The Panama Canal – The canal had been built by the United States in the early 1990s. It connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. It shortens a ships voyage by thousands of miles. The U.S. had full control over the canal. In 1977, President Carter signed a treaty with Panama to eventually turn over control of the Canal to Panama. In 2000, Panama gained full control over the canal.

The Role of Religion The Catholic Church has played a major role in Latin American society since colonial times. Traditionally a conservative force, many church leaders became proponents of social reforms during the late 1990s. Outspoken priests and nuns for example, struggled against the oppressive military regimes that ruled many Latin American countries. Still, Evangelical Protestant Groups have gained a growing following with the poor throughout the region.

Summary Many of the nations of Latin America have faced political unrest in the last decades of the 20 th century. Argentina suffered under military rule. Guatemala and Nicaragua experienced civil wars. Cuba was a Cold War battleground and Mexico experienced unrest. Today, however, democracy is taking hold in the region. Still some problems remain, including the presence and activity of international drug traffickers.