1. 20th Century Latin America

2. The Panama Canal
People who wanted to travel around North and South America had to travel across the treacherous land or go all the way around South America
France decided to create a canal across the isthmus of Panama since it was only 40 miles wide
At the time, Panama was part of Columbia

3. The Panama Canal
U.S. tried to buy the land from Colombia but they refused
U. S. urged the people of Panama to revolt and they did
In 1903, Panama became its own country and leased the land to the U. S.
The canal opened in 1914 and became one of the most important transportation routes in the world

4. The Spanish-American War
Even after Central America broke free of Spanish rule, Cuba and Puerto Rico were still controlled by Spain
The islanders rebelled many times but were not able to gain independence
1898 – the U.S. declared war on Spain
Wanted to help the people of these countries but also protect the sugar cane plantations they owned on the islands

5. The Spanish-American War
War lasted less than a year
The U.S. won – Puerto Rico became a U.S. territory and Cuba became an independent country
The U.S. military set up bases there and kept tight control

6. Cuba
From , the U.S. army stayed in Cuba to keep peace and help set up a new government
Most Cubans resented this but many new roads, bridges, and public schools were built
Cuba became independent but the U.S. maintained a huge naval base at Guantanamo Bay and insisted it had the right to send soldiers any time it wished

7. Cuba
Cuba had a series of leaders – some elected and some took power by force
Most were dictators
They tried to stay friendly with the U.S. and welcomed U.S. businesses and tourists
Havana offered luxury hotels and casinos but most residents remained poor

8. Cuba
Fidel Castro led a revolution to overthrow Cuba’s current leader, Fulgencio Batista, in 1959
He was greeted joyfully by the people of Havana and promised there would be no more dictators
Castro took power during the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union

9. Cuba Castro needed an ally and the Soviet Union wanted to be that ally
Castro began to adopt Communist policies for Cuba’s economy
He took over sugar cane plantations, U.S. banks, oil refineries, and other businesses on the island
The U.S. cut off all trade with Cuba and started an embargo

10. Guerrilla warfare
In Peru in the early 1980s, Communist groups rose up because they were unhappy with the democratic government – Shining Path (Sendero Luminoso) and Zapatistas
Some of these groups fought using guerrila warfare – small nontraditional military groups leading small attacks
Many citizens died in the crossfire and it became a kind of civil war

11. Nationalism
Nationalism refers to a people's sense of common belonging and loyalty to a nation.
It may develop as people join together to form a unified government
he effects of nationalism can be both good and bad. Nationalism gives people a sense of belonging and pride
But nationalism also produces rivalry and tension between nations

12. Nationalism
Nationalism also can be improperly used for the political gain of a specific person or party
Example: Juan and Eva Peron(Argentina)