1. Aim: Describe Superpower Confrontations in Latin America after World War II

2. Confrontations in Latin America
Post WWII, industrialization, population growth, & gap between rich & poor led Latin American nations to seek aid from both superpowers
US involvement in Latin America began long before WWII
American businesses backed leaders who protected US interests
After war, communism & nationalistic feelings inspired revolutionary movements 2

3. Fidel Castro & the Cuban Revolution
1950’s: Cuba ruled by an unpopular dictator, Fulgenico Batista
Cuban resentment led to revolution
Jan 1959, Batista overthrown
Lawyer named Fidel Castro led revolution
Many praised Castro but he was a harsh dictator
Suspended elections, jailed or executed his opponents, & tightly controlled the press
1960: CIA began to train anti-Castro Cuban exiles
April 1961: invaded Cuba landing at the Bay of Pigs
Castro’s forces easily defeated invaders 3

4. Nuclear Face-Off: Cuban Missile Crisis
Failed Bay of Pigs invasion convinced Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev that US would not resist Soviet expansion in Latin America
July 1962: Khrushchev began building 42 missile sites in Cuba
Oct: Pres. Kennedy declared missiles were threat to US mainland
Kennedy demand for removal of Soviet missiles put the US & Soviet Union on collision course for nuclear war
Khrushchev agreed to remove missiles in return for a US promise not to invade Cuba
Resolution: Crisis left Castro dependent on Soviet support
Soviet aid to Cuba ended in 1991 4

5. Civil War in Nicaragua
US had funded the Nicaraguan dictatorship of Anastasio Somazo
1979, Communist Sandinista rebels toppled Somoza’s son
US & Soviet Union gave aid to Sandinistas & leader Daniel Ortega
US supported Nicaraguan anti-Communist forces called the Contras or contrarevolucionarios
Civil war in Nicaragua lasted more than a decade
1990: Pres. Ortega agreed to hold free elections 5