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: 1) CIA led plan to
overthrow Castro fails
2) Cuban Missile Crisis.
3) US promises never again to
sponsor an invasion of Cuba,
but CIA plans numerous
assassination plots.
1954: 1) Jacobo Arbenz is
the democratically elected
leader of Guatemala.
Arbenz begins socialist
reforms. 2) 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 who favors socialist
reforms starts a revolution against
Mexican govt but revolution fails.
2006: Socialist candidate nearly
wins Presidential election in Mexico
: 1) US backs El
Salvador’s military government
in a civil war against the pro-
Communist FMLN
2) El Salvadoran army funds death
squads terrorizing the country
: 1) Daniel Ortega’s
Sandinistas overthrow Nicaraguan
dictator Anastansio Somoza.
2) Ortega begins socialist reforms
US backs anti-communist group
called the Contras