1. The United States in Latin America
Economic and Social Trends in 20th Century Latin America, and the U.S. Response

2. Latin American Independence
Latin America gained its independence soon after the U.S.
Enlightenment Ideas (Locke, Rousseau, Jefferson, etc…)
Inspiration of the American & French Revolutions
Creole discontent (similar to American Revolution)
Spain and Portugal are busy fighting Napoleonic Wars

3. Latin American Independence
The Haitian Revolution was the first Latin American revolution, in 1791
Led by a former slave: Toussaint L’Ouverture
Simon Bolivar led revolutions in many other parts of Latin America
By 1830, almost all of the region was independent

4. Latin America, 1830s

5. Differences with the United States
Despite becoming independent soon after the U.S., Latin American nations developed differently
U.S. inherited British democratic traditions
Portugal and Spain didn’t have this tradition

6. Differences with the United States
The early U.S. had a relatively developed economy
Latin America was mostly used for agriculture and resources by the Europeans
U.S. had a middle class
Latin America had a small elite and a large number of poor

7. Unlike Africa and Asia….
The U.S. was the imperial power in Latin America
The U.S. worked to keep the Europeans out (Monroe Doctrine)
And did business throughout Latin America, buying up much of the land and controlling many of the resources in the process

8. Early U.S. Imperialism
By the late 1800s, with the U.S. industrializing, it started to look outwards
1898: The Spanish- American War
1914: The Panama Canal was completed

10. In the 20th Century
Latin American nations that were trying to grow economically had a tense relationship with the U.S.
The U.S. was a major economic partner
But U.S. companies also extracted much of the wealth

11. Why the United States?
By the 20th Century, the U.S. was the primary importer of Latin American goods
A number of American corporations owned land in Latin American nations or operated there
Dole (Agricultural Goods such as pineapple, bananas, etc.)
Chevron (Oil)
Merck and Pfizer (Pharmaceutical)
Alcoa (Aluminum)
In many cases, it was believed that U.S. companies were working with the U.S. government in order to keep Latin America poor

12. 20th Century Revolutions
Have largely been about giving more land to poor farmers, and increasing production at home in order to boost development
Often, this has gone along with plans to remove U.S.-backed interests

13. Cuba
Would be one good example of the tension between the US and Latin America
More on Cuba later….

14. In Guatemala
In 1952, free elections held in Guatemala brought Jacobo Arbenz to power as President
Arbenz had run on a platform of land re- distribution
Once in power he began to seize foreign-owned land and give it to peasants

15. The United Fruit Company
Was an American company that owned large amounts of land in Guatemala for plantations (major product was Chiquita Bananas)
Much of their land was seized

16. In Response
The United Fruit Company began to lobby the U.S. Congress, saying that Arbenz was a Communist (he wasn’t)
The CIA led a coup that overthrew the Arbenz government
The new dictator gave the United Fruit Company all its land back

17. The Guatemalan Civil War
After Arbenz, the U.S. propped up a host of dictators in Guatemala
This led to a civil war which began in the 1970’s
A peace accord was not signed until 1996

18. In Chile Salvador Allende was elected President in 1970
A Socialist, Allende spent huge amounts on housing, education, and health care
He also nationalized businesses, including some that were U.S. backed

19. The CIA Again Intervened
The American intelligence agency began training and supplying Allende’s opposition, hoping they would overthrow the government
They did
They bombed the Presidential palace (in planes given by the U.S.), killing Allende and 3,000 others

20. Enter Augusto Pinochet
Pinochet came to power after Allende
He had been commander-in-chief of the military under Allende, but had been approached by the CIA
Once in power, he reversed Allende’s decisions and gave land back to the U.S. companies

21. Under Pinochet The economy did improve, largely due to U.S. investment
But he also arrested and executed at least 100,000 that were opposed to him, and censored the press in order to keep order

22. Today Latin America tends to have mixed feelings about the U.S.
Almost all of the nations like U.S. tourists, who spend all kinds of money there on vacations

23. But Relations With the Government
Are often strained
Many Latin American nations feel the United States is still too involved in their affairs
Many feel the U.S. actively seeks to keep Latin America poor
Many Latin American nations have now begun to bypass American aid, and rely on China and other countries for their loans and support