Inspired by the American and French Revolutions, Latin American nationalists led the region to freedom in the 1800s.

But while independence solved some problems, it did not solve all problems.

Many newly independent nations were dependent on cash crops for export.

A cash crop is a crop that is produced for export. A country that exports coffee or sugar is dependent on the price of that crop.

If the price falls, an entire economy can be devastated.

Of course, relying on agricultural exports started in the colonial period. Mercantilists believed that colonies had to benefit the mother country.

In addition, a few wealthy landowners owned most of the land.

Yes, a few wealthy, landowning families and many poor landless campesinos or peasants created a great gap between the rich and poor.

And with powerful militaries, democracies were regularly threatened.

In Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, a former military man, became President in 1998.

Chavez removed term limits for politicians and restricted many freedoms.

Chavez turned Venezuela into a socialist state, nationalizing the oil industries.

But with the state controlling oil revenue, Chavez was able to provide free education and healthcare to all Venezuelans.

Yes, Latin Americans have experienced many challenges since independence.

But in 1948, the Organization of American States (OAS) was founded to promote regional cooperation.

The OAS includes countries of South America, Central America, the U.S.A., Canada, and the islands of the Caribbean.

The OAS tries to resolve disputes among member nations peacefully and tries to address issues facing the region.

Of course, the OAS was inspired by Simon Bolivar’s, the great independence leader’s, vision of a Gran Colombia, a united region.