Latin American Dictators and current issues Lesson #6

So… Latin American in the early 1900s…

In the 1800s and 1900s… In the newly independent Latin American nations: Were still ruled by the creoles who lived VERY well

In the 1880s and 1900s… In the newly independent Latin American nations Were still ruled by the creoles But most people were dirt poor

In the 1880s and 1900s… In the newly independent Latin American nations Were still ruled by the creoles Most people were dirt poor And sometimes… The rich and the poor lived side by side…

What happened? Some got desperate…

What happened? Some got desperate… And chose any leader who said they would help…

Reason for dictatorships Dictators were popular because they promised power and money for the lowest classes Once in power, they usually ignored most of those promises Eventually, they would be overthrown for a new dictator, promising reform

Reason for dictatorships Spanish had structured colonies with clear hierarchy Once the Spanish control was gone, the highest ranks expected all power and money The lower “ranks” wanted some power and money The struggle continues today

… and now… your job… On your cell phone… google each of these guys, and… Name the nation Give the years of dictatorship Tell about something they did, either positive or negative

Augusto Pinochet

Fidel Castro

Hugo Chavez

José Daniel Ortega

Manuel Antonio Noriega Also, tell why he’s in jail

Juan Peron

Eva Peron

For each slide: Name the nation Give the years of dictatorship Tell about something they did, either positive or negative

Answers…

Augusto Pinochet Dictator of Chile 1973-1990 Killed thousands Tortured tens of thousands 300 criminal charges (at time of death in 2006) human rights violations tax evasion embezzlement corruptly amassed a wealth of $28 million

Fidel Castro Cuba 1959-2011 Human Rights abuses state control of press suppression of internal dissent

Hugo Chavez Venezuela 1999-2013 Amassed wealth Gave family members jobs VERY anti-American

José Daniel Ortega Nicaragua 1985-1990 2007-present Land reform Literacy program

Manuel Antonio Noriega Panama 1983-1989 Found guilty of drug trafficking Racketeering Money laundering (in April 1992) US jail until 2007, then France, now Panama

Juan Peron Argentina 1944-1954 Programs for the poor Also – human rights violations

America’s greatest structure:

Why build the Panama Canal? Draw arrows where canals are needed

Reason to build the canal

How they built the canal

PANAMA CANAL

Commercial break

Expansion project

Current Issues in Latin America Drugs Illegal Immigration Current Trade issues

Drug Products Mainly three drugs Cocaine from Columbia, Peru, Bolivia Coca is ONLY found in Andes Marijuana from Jamaica Heroin from Columbia (from opium poppies)

I. Drug Trade from Latin America Plants used to produce drugs Poppy Plant Coca Plant For Opium For Cocaine

Results of Drug Trade Effects of Cocaine $51 billion cost to government / year 1.5 million arrests / year 2 million currently in jail for drug crimes (1/100 of population – most in world) Effects of Heroin (an opiate)

Drug Smuggling 90% of all US cocaine enters via Mexico was via the Caribbean into Florida United States imports 75 % of their exports The major drug trafficking organizations (drug cartels) are Mexican and Colombian generate $20 to $40 billion “Mules” are used to carry drugs click Bricks of Cocaine

Where it drugs come from

… and where they go…

How drugs get here click

The Old Way:

The new way: narco-submarine click

The narco-sub, not submerged…

To stop drug importation:

Increase in last couple years

II. ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION Smuggling Trafficking click

Definitions false pretenses pays for assistance Trafficking – a person is trafficked if she/he agrees under to relocate for employment reasons and is forced into involuntary forms of Labor Smuggling – a person is smuggled if she/he seeks and to cross borders without documents, but is allegedly free once arriving in the new country false pretenses pays for assistance

Definitions false pretenses Trafficking – a person is trafficked if she/he agrees under to relocate for employment reasons and is forced into involuntary forms of Labor false pretenses

Definitions pays for assistance Smuggling – a person is smuggled if she/he seeks and to cross borders without documents, but is allegedly free once arriving in the new country pays for assistance

Why do people sneak into the US? The main reason people CHOOSE to break the law and illegally immigrate is for and for jobs that Mexico does not have. higher wages

Smuggling Smuggling means someone helps the illegal into the US. That person is called Coyotes charge from $300 to $50,000 per person. Often, the price is so high, the illegal will spend years of FORCED LABOR paying off debt. Sometimes… forever… coyotes

Common Sites of Forced Labor Agriculture and food processing Construction Domestic Workers Restaurants Assembly plants Garment and textile workers Sex industry

Estimates of Force Labor Exact figures are difficult to calculate because trafficking is illegal and hidden women, men and children are victims of forced labor yearly 1.4 million are in commercial sex work 760,000 are economically exploited 600,000 are in mixed commercially and sexually exploited 2.4 million

Human Trafficking 4 million 7-10 billion Human Trafficking – Modern slavery Over persons trafficked a year – U.N. estimate dollar a year illegal industry Third largest illegal industry in the world (drugs and arms sales) 4 million 7-10 billion

What are we doing about it? The Justice Department created a unit to pursue human trafficking cases The FBI currently has 212 ongoing human trafficking investigations The Justice Department has initiated 60 investigations in the past four months. Last year, federal prosecutors charged 222 defendants and won 98 convictions.

What does this show about the relationship we have with Mexico?

3. Current Trade

Pablo Escobar click