1. UNIT 15: MODERN LATIN AMERICA

2. Where is Latin America?  Latin America is defined as Central and South America.  The term “Latin” stems from the language spoken in the region being of Latin descent (Spanish, Portuguese, French)

3. A Brief History of Latin America before WWII…  Home of indigenous tribes like the Maya in central America (250 A.D), and the Aztecs in Mexico and the Inca in Peru (both around 1200).  Conquered by the Europeans in 1500’s to 1700’s, especially Spain, Portugal, and France.  Independence was first achieved in Haiti in 1808, and this inspiration (and an end to European colonialism in the new world) led to independence for most Latin American nations by 1825.  Following the exit of the Europeans, the Americans had tremendous influence on the region……

4. Key Issues in Modern Latin America in the 20 th Century  Developing Economies – Nations struggle in how to shift from agricultural society to developed nations following WWII.  Issues with Industrialization – As nations industrialize, challenges with population growth, the environment, and social classes take hold.  Political and Social Issues – Shifting from autocratic to democratic nations is a long and often bloody process.

5. Developing Economies  Many countries have monocultures, or are based on just one or two crops.  Venezuela and Mexico = Oil  Colombia and Central America = Coffee  Leads to economic roller coaster when prices rise and fall.  Debt is a large economic problem in Latin America.  Trying to expand their economies, many nations like Mexico, Argentina, and Brazil have taken large loans and struggled to repay them in the past.  Governments are forced to produce more money.  This leads to inflation and social class struggles.

6. Becoming Economic Allies  Many Latin American countries depend on the U.S. and each other for trading.  The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) took effect in 1994. Mexico, the U.S., and Canada all trade free of tariffs.  Has led to many multinational corporations, or foreign- owned businesses.  Many other countries in Latin American have similar agreements to reduce dependency on larger nations.

7. Key Question…  What are some of the effects of having multinational corporations?  Who do they really benefit?

8. Industrialization  Before industrialization, most nations have a high birthrate and high death rate.  Industrialization lowers death rates as living conditions improve.  Generally leads to a population boom.  Latin America’s population has more than tripled since WWII to almost 590 million people.  Leads to increased poverty and a move to cities to find employment.  Leads to the building of makeshift towns on unowned streets.  Leads to the cutting of rainforests to develop more land for people to live in.

9. Political and Social Issues  Military led dictatorships and wealthy rulers have long been very influential in Latin America.  Latin America has the sharpest divide between wealthy and poor in the world.  Latin America was also a battleground of political ideas during the Cold War.  Communism vs. Capitalism leaders. Example of Fidel Castro in Cuba.  Today, many countries remain with unstable leadership.

10.  Slums in Sao Paulo, Brazil….

11. MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA Latin America Day 2 Notes

12. Mexico’s Economic Issues  Huge oil reserves are discovered in Mexico in the 1970s.  Mexican leaders borrow huge loans without fear of being able to repay them.  World oil market slumps in the 1980s and leads to disaster and inflation. Around the same time a massive earthquake hits Mexico City. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNWCYG2MnC8  Mexico suffers it’s worst economic collapse in history in 1994. Politically and economically it has been trying to recover ever since.

13. Immigration Issues  Around the same time as Mexico’s economy collapsed, the population was growing.  Many people begin looking for work but there was none to find.  Thousands of Mexicans begin crossing into the U.S. to find work.  The trend has continued into today. As Mexico’s economic problems continue close to 7 million undocumented immigrants from Mexico are inside the U.S. as we speak!

14. Key Question…  If there is no work to be found in Mexico, why do we hold it against people for coming to the U.S.?  http://otherwords.org/ wp- content/uploads/2011/ 07/alabama- immigration-cartoon.jpg http://otherwords.org/ wp- content/uploads/2011/ 07/alabama- immigration-cartoon.jpg  Wouldn’t you do the same?

15. Mexico’s Drug Issues  Since 2000 Mexico’s drug war has dominated headlines.  Presidents Vicente Fox (2000-2006), Felipe Calderon (2006-2011), & Enrique Pena Nieto (currently) have called on military and police officials to stop drug cartels.  The result has been a substantial increase of terroristic attacks.  Over 11,000 people died from drug cartel related attacks in 2010, and things are getting worse.  http://www.cartoonmovement.com/cartoon /5666 http://www.cartoonmovement.com/cartoon /5666  http://www.truthdig.com/images/made/i mages/cartoonuploads/arrestchapo_500_ 400.jpg http://www.truthdig.com/images/made/i mages/cartoonuploads/arrestchapo_500_ 400.jpg  http://lowres.cartoonstock.com/none- mexico-drug_gang_violence- gang_violence-mexico_drug_trade- drug_cartels-amrn887_low.jpg http://lowres.cartoonstock.com/none- mexico-drug_gang_violence- gang_violence-mexico_drug_trade- drug_cartels-amrn887_low.jpg

16. Common Characteristics in South America  All countries in South America are democracies.  A couple leaders have expressed concerns about the U.S.’s influence in the region, which is as great as ever, including...  Bolivia’s president Evo Morales: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KkK50CQ2w0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KkK50CQ2w0  Especially Venezuela’s recently deceased president Hugo Chavez  Most countries have high literacy rates (over 90%) and life expectancies in the 70s.

17. Lasting Issues in Latin America  Which lasting issue is most important for many Latin American countries to address to improve the world?  Drugs?  Political corruption?  Economic struggles?  Immigration?