Latin America 1945-Present

What/Where is Latin America?

General Info - Problems Economy since 1945 – In 22 of 26 countries by 1960, average person lived on less that $500/yr – Bad economies led to military regimes in the 1960s/70s (government by military) who encouraged multinational corporations – Dependence on other countries led to massive debt, countries turned toward democracy in 1980s

General Info – Problems, cont. Massive population growth – 1950 = 165 million; 1980s = 400 million Gap between rich and poor Drug trade – Bolivia, Peru, Colombia (3/4 of world’s supply) Replica of 2010 World Cup made from 24 lbs. (11 kilos) of cocaine – seized by Colombian police July 2010

US and Latin America 1948 Organization of American States (OAS) – no military action by one state in another U.S. continued to intervene (political musical chairs in 1960s – CIA) – look at chart p. 908 Leads to shaky US- Latin America relations – more on later

Identity Crisis Latin America has struggled to have artistic voice heard Literature Magic realism Gabriel Garcia Marquez – One Hundred Years of Solitude Abstract art Architecture – Oscar Niemeyer

Central America

Mexico PRI – Institutional Revolutionary Party = one- party system Mexican students protest one- party in 60’s After death of hundreds, slow progress made Oil discovery in 1970s = $ boom Oil prices drop in mid-80’s = debt = privatization Vicente Fox defeated PRI for presidency in 2000

Cuba Gov’t led by Fulgencio Batista since 1934 Communist revolution led by Fidel Castro (1959) US-Cuba relations Trade Embargo Bay of Pigs Cuban Missile Crisis Poor economics after decline of USSR

El Salvador, Nicaragua, Panama El Salvador – Commies vs. non-commies Reagan gives weapons and training to Salvadoran army Civil War continues through 1992 (75,000 dead) Nicaragua – Somoza Family (supported by US) – Communist revolution led by Sandinistas Opposed by Contras (supported by Reagan) Panama – Led by Manuel Noriega (supported by US) – Noriega involved in drug trade – Arrested by U.S. and put in prison

Argentina History of authoritarian regimes Juan Peron Falkland Islands vs. Great Britain Back towards democracy in 1980s

Brazil Severe economic problems after WWII Military leadership in 1960s Massive foreign debt (up to 800%) Return to democracy in 1980s

Chile 1970 Salvador Allende elected president (Marxist/Communist) Shot in military coup led by Augusto Pinochet Human rights violations by Pinochet Defeated in 1989 – more democratic gov’t took over

Peru Military takeover in 1968 by Juan Velasco Alvarado Sought to help peasants through cooperatives Economic problems didn’t let up – military gov’t resigned Shining Path (ties with communist China) sought to create classless society through terror Freely elected Native President in 2001

Terms and Names Define the red terms and names and turn in Additionally, on p. 908 answer the Chart Skills question – you don’t have to write out a problem solving process, just provide possible options and solutions that might avoid future military takeovers