Latin America and the United States
Imperialism
Mexican-American War §US annexed Texas from Mexico §War w/ Mexico §US won, Mexico gave almost all territory to US
Spanish American War §Cuba wanted indep. from Spain - US helped §US declared war on Spain §US won & Cuba indep., but US involved in their gov’t
US Acquires Puerto Rico §Won Puerto Rico after Spanish-American War §Kept Puerto Rico as a territory
Puerto Rico §Gave people citizenship status in 1917 §Self-Governing commonwealth of the US
Puerto Rico Article Questions 1.Where do the most Puerto Ricans live? 2.How many times did Puerto Ricans vote on the political status of their island? What was the result of all of these elections? 3.In what three ways would statehood affect the people of Puerto Rico? 4.What two things would Puerto Rico have to do if it became an independent nation?
Puerto Rico’s Economic Development §Before 1950s – SUGAR §After 1950s - tourism & industry developed
Panama Canal
US Acquires Land to Build HOW? §Colombia controled Panama §US requests lease and build canal - Colombia says no §US helps Panama revolution §Panama allows US build canal
US Builds Panama Canal
WHY? §Ships do not have to go around Cape Horn §Military advantage connecting Atlantic & Pacific
Other US Involvement §US economic ties increased §US companies bought plantations and mines §Some debts went unpaid - US occupied country to protect interests (early 1900s)
Cold War
Cold War Affects Lat. Am. §US wanted to prevent spread of Communism in Latin America §Many Latin Americans wanted socialism/communism §US supplied anti-Communist movements w/ $ & weapons
US Opposition to Castro Castro promoted a Communist government
Bay of Pigs §US attempt to oust (remove from power) Castro §Promised military support of anti-Castro group §Did not send forces in resulting in a bloodbath
Cuban Missile Crisis §USSR supported Castro §Put missiles on Cuba (close to US) §US blockaded Cuba §USSR sent ships/nuclear weapons §USSR agreed to withdraw if US did not invade
Current Day Situation Still have Guantanamo Bay military base Still have US trade embargo against Cuba Tensions between US and Cuba decreasing
Trade Embargo
In 2006, Castro temporarily stepped down from power for health reasons, resigning permanently in His brother, Raúl Castro, took his place. Raúl Castro has implemented many reforms. In February 2013, Raúl Castro announced that he would retire after his current term ends in Top Vice President Miguel Díaz-Canel is his likely successor.
§US gave weapons to anti- communist gov’t to fight left- wing guerillas (Communist) §US encouraged gov’t to create free elections & land reform §Fighting continued until 1990s US in El Salvador
Land Reform
US in Nicaragua §Sandinistas gain power – guerillas §Fearing Communism, US supported Contras (Right wing) §Trade embargo against Nicaragua until held free elections