1. Struggle for Democracy in Mexico/Central America/Caribbean
How does the US react to the rise of socialism in Latin America?

2. US involvement in Mexico, Cent. America & Caribbean
1961: CIA plan to overthrow
Castro fails, leads to
Cuban Missile Crisis. US
promises never again to
sponsor an invasion of Cuba,
but CIA plans numerous
assassination plots.
1954: Jacobo Arbenz is
the democratically elected
leader of Guatemala.
Arbenz begins socialist
reforms. CIA backs a coup
overthrowing Arbenz

3. Today: Castro family still in power in Cuba. Ortega has returned
to power in Nicaragua. FMLN wins
2009 election in El Salvador
1994: EZLN wants to start a
Revolution against PRI, EZLN favors
socialist reforms. Revolution fails.
2006: Socialist candidate nearly
wins Presidential election in Mexico
: US backs the
El Salvadoran Armed Forces
in a civil war against the pro-
Communist FMLN. US-backed
ESAF funds death squads
terrorizing the country
: Daniel Ortega’s
Sandinistas overthrow Nicaraguan
leader Anastansio Somoza.
After Ortega begins socialist reforms
US backs an anti-communist group
called the Contras