1. Latin America
In the 20th Century

2. Themes in Latin American History
Imperialism
s: European quest for 3Gs
Created racial and economic inequality
Independence Movements (1790s-1820s)
Toussaint L’ouverture, Bolivar
No land redistribution

3. Themes in Latin American History
Military dictatorships
Diaz, Santa Anna
No land redistribution
U.S. economic interests lead to political and military involvement
Monroe Doctrine (1823)
Roosevelt Corollary (1904) = U.S. could interfere in LA politics at any point

4. Themes in Latin American History
Democratization (beginning late 1980s & 1990s)
Civilian governments in Argentina, Guatemala, Mexico

5. Location
Mexico
Central America
South America
The Caribbean

6. Geography
Location = Mexico, Central America, South America, the Caribbean
Mountainous = Andes Mountains
River Systems:
Amazon River
River de la Plata

7. Brazilian Rainforest:
Dense, hot and humid
Natural barrier
deforestation
Pampas = grassy highlands in Argentina used for cattle grazing and wheat

8. Building of the Panama Canal

10. Causes:
Need for shorter route to west coast
Panama was province of Columbia
Columbia refuses to sell land
Panama independence movement

11. Effects
Canal takes 10 years to build
1000s die of diseases
Canal opens in 1914

13. Drug trafficking within US
Political Instability
Manuel Noriega is dictator
Drug trafficking within US

14. 1989 US invasion to remove Noriega
sentenced for 40 yrs plus another 40 in Panama

15. Argentina 1930s economic depression High unemployment
falling world beef prices

16. 1946-1955 Juan Peron as president Economic Changes
Urban working conditions,
nationalize natural resources
limit foreign investment
import substitution
Programs lead to debt

17. Lack of political rights
Brown Shirts
1970s two military coups cause political instability

18. H R
UMAN IGHTS IOLATIONS V

19. Argentina’s Dirty War
“First we will kill all of the subversives; then…we will kill all of their sympathizers; then…those who remain undecided, and finally we will kill the indifferent ones.”
–General Iberico Saint-Jean, May 26, 1977

20. 1976-1983 Military regime launches policy of state terrorism
Military arrested, tortured and killed 1000s
Desaparecidos: “disappeared ones”; up to 36,000

21. Madres de la Plaza de Mayo
silently march holding pictures of disappeared children
Protest gains international attention
Gov’t admits wrong-doing

23. 1983 democratic gov’t voted into power
Goals: control military, restore human rights, rebuild economy
Has not admitted to all deaths

24. Argentine high court tosses amnesty laws; Hundreds could be tried for crimes in Dirty War!
(August, 2005)

25. 45 military officers and one civilian are sought to stand trial for crimes against humanity

26. Guatemala 1951 Jacobo Arbenz leads revolt
redistributed unused gov’t and foreign company land to rural poor
Considered communist by US
US companies pressure gov’t
US and Guatemalan invasion ousts Arbenz

27. Effects Military regime friendly with US investors takes power
civil war and military dictatorships
1985 civilian gov’t elected and wider democratic participation in the 1990s

28. Who was ruling? How did they rule?
Who came into power and changes they made
U.S. reaction
1980s-1990s

29. Cuba

30. Cuban Revolution (1959) Causes: Batista = dictator supported by US
US involvement in economics
Large gap between rich and poor
Want of land redistribution

31. Effects: Fidel Castro comes to power
Improved literacy, health care, conditions of women
Suspended elections, jailed/executed opponents, harsh censorship
Nationalized US businesses

32. Bay of Pigs Invasion (1960) CAUSES: Increasing tensions with US
Kennedy = US President
US trained Cuban exiles to invade & overthrow Castro
Expect Cubans aid invasion

33. EFFECTS:
Initial bombing has little effect
Invading exiles captured
Castro declares himself communist
U.S. trade embargo against Cuba

34. 3. Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)

35. CAUSES:
US spy plane finds USSR ICBMs in Cuba
Kennedy demands Khrushchev remove missiles
U.S. blockades Cuba

36. EFFECTS:
13 days of near nuclear war
Khrushchev removes missiles
Kennedy removes some bases in Turkey
Cuba becomes politically and economically tied to USSR

37. 4. Obstacles to Progress Ties to USSR
a. When USSR falls, Cuba declines
--poverty
--Economic Reforms
a. Adding some capitalist elements

38. Political Oppression
US trade embargo
lack of food and medical supplies
Immigration
a. “boat people”
b U.S. Closed Door Policy

39. Obstacles to Progress in Cuba
Cuba politically/economically tied to USSR
a. When USSR falls, Cuba declines
b. poverty
c. Adding some capitalist elements
Political Oppression
US trade embargo
lack of food and medical supplies
To remain until change in political system
Immigration
a. “boat people”
b U.S. Closed Door Policy