Chapter 29: Latin America, 1945-Present

Key Ideas Since 1945, there has much political, economic and social unrest in Latin America Economic failure led to authoritarian and military rule Great social inequality, wide gap between rich and poor (land = power) 1980s and 1990s showed movement towards democratization in many nations *Costa Rica – long history of a stable democratic gov’t COSTA RICA

Latin American Exports Bananas Cattle Coffee Copper Fish Oil Sugar cane Tobacco Wheat

Religion Liberation Theology Clergy church leaders become proponents of social reform Priests and nuns struggled against oppressive military regimes

Argentina 1900, richest nation in LA, but was devastated by the Great Depression 1946,military coup brings Juan Peron (dictator) to power Promises of stability, gains support Limited foreign-owned business by promoting imports substitution local manufacturers produce goods at home to replace imported products Began great social reforms but huge debts lead to being overthrown by a military coup in 1955 1976-1983, “Dirty war” Military arrested, tortured, and killed thousands of political dissidents (HRV 20,000 die) “Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo” win worldwide attention Democracy restored in 1983

Guatemala 1960-96, Civil War Between military gov’t and landowners and the indigenous (locals) 30,000 die (HRV) 1996, rebels gave up and peace was reached Democratization

Nicaragua Somoza family rules from 1936-1979 Repressive, but close ties to US Nicaraguan Revolution, 1979 Sandinistas (reform minded nationalists and communists (Marxist)) overthrow Somoza gov’t Sandinistas in power Government resembled a communist government Closer ties to Cuba Contras opposite of Sandinistas, a counter revolutionary group (supported by the USA) Civil War between the two groups Economically devastating, death 1990, Sandinistas hand over power to a freely elected president

Mexico Post-WWII Success and Troubles Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI)-ruled between 1960-2000 (due to the Mexican Revolution) 1970s, new oil fields and high energy prices meant economic boom 1980s brought world recession, a time when business is poor, oil prices fell and Mexico went into debt Never enough jobs; urbanization, slums The gap between rich and poor remained Upper – European Poor – Mestizo, Native American, African Population explosion – not enough land to grow food Demands for change  Vicente Fox elected president, end to PRI rule

Mexico Links with the US 1950s, Organization of American States (OAS) Cooperation and peaceful resolution Formed to strengthen democracy, promote human rights, confront problems of poverty, terrorism, illegal drugs, and corruption NAFTA Remove trade barriers between Mexico, US, Canada Promote investment and economic growth in Mexico

Panama Corruption Panama Canal Late 1980s, Panamanian leader, Manuel Noriega, suspected of helping criminal gangs called cartels smuggle drugs into the US 1989, US troops invade of Panama and arrest Noriega More stability and democracy in 1990s Panama Canal Constructed in the early 1900s by America Shortened travel time between Atlantic and Pacific Ocean Panama assumed complete control on January 1, 2000

Cuba 1952, Batista gains power – repressive, corrupt 1959, Fidel Castro overthrows Fulgencio Batista with guerilla army and establishes a communist dictatorship Supported by peasants who wanted change Gov’t control of business and industry (socialist reforms) Unequal distribution of wealth Standard of living rises for many, however Conflict with US US trade embargo (economic sanctions) Bay of Pigs Invasion Cuban Missile Crisis US naval blockade of Cuba After fall of USSR, Cuba’s economy has suffered greatly

Chile 1973, Augusto Pinochet overthrows Salvatore Allende (Marxist) Pinochet regime (military gov’t) most brutal in Chiles history Opponents imprisoned, tortured, murdered (HRV) Free elections in 1989, movement toward democracy and economic stability