WWII was not a critical event; LA only moderately involved (Brazil aided US steel industry)

New definitions: First World: capitalist industrialized nation Second World: communist industrialized nation Third World: developing nations, usually less

economically powerful Latin America, despite regional variety, mostly fits the

Third World definition because of its slow industrialization and lingering reliance on Western markets.

Post-WWII: surge of radical socialist unrest (Bolivia, Guatemala, Cuba)

1930s – 2000: Mexico controlled by Party of Institutionalized Revolution (PRI).

1994: Zapatistas emerged (guerilla movement) but were put down by the PRI.

PRI becomes corrupt and repressive 1994: Mexico joined the North American

Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). US; Canada; Mexico Make North American trade competition for

European markets; strengthen North American markets

2000: Vicente Fox (National Action Party: PAN) won national election

Guatemala’s struggles: illiteracy; poor health; high mortality; land and wealth unfairly distributed; economy depends entirely on bananas and coffee

President Jacobo Árbenz (1945-1951) used programs that conflicted with American companies in Guatemala (esp. United Fruit Company). Decree 900: Guatemalan land reform act

(redistributed land to peasants; increased cultivation and moved Guatemalan economy to capitalism)

US CIA invaded Guatemala to overthrow Árbenz and installed a pro-US government. Construed Decree 900 as communist threat

New American-backed military government reversed land reform.

Cuba was dependent on American imports and the export of sugar. US is leading trade partner with Cuba

Disparity between middle classes and lowest classes

1952-1959: Fulgencio Batista ruled Cuba as military dictator. Little actual reform; opposition movements rise Fidel Castro (young lawyer) and Ernesto “Che”

Guevara (militant Argentinian revolutionary) joined in Mexico to create a small military force to overthrow Batista. Pledge real democracy, justice, freedom

1959: “26th of July Movement” drove Batista from power while rebels take Havana Support from students, labor organizations, and rural workers.

With Castro, Cuba now socialist state Achievements of socialism are

accompanied with restrictions on freedoms. Collective farms, confiscated property

1961: US and Cuba cut off relations with each other. Castro aligns Cuba with USSR

A U.S.-sponsored intervention by Cuban exiles failed (Bay of Pigs)

Cuban Missile Crisis (1962) USSR installed missiles in Cuba to taunt the

US. Tension between US (Kennedy) and USSR

Cuba became increasingly dependent on the Soviet Union throughout the Cold War.

After WWI, US is dominant power in West. Private investments by U.S. companies and loans from the

government were the chief means of influence The United States intervened periodically in Latin America to

protect investments and contain communism. (effects of Monroe Doctrine)

More than 30 interventions before 1933 After interventions, US helped to create Banana Republics

Conservative governments (often corrupt dictatorships) that would be friendly to the US and US financial interests.

Called this because of dependence on export of tropical products (Guatemala)

Foreign intervention created a growing nationalist reaction.

1937: FDR’s Good Neighbor Policy Promised to deal more fairly with Latin America and stop direct

interventions; ignored during the Cold War. 1961: Alliance for Progress launched by US

Aimed to develop regions and eliminate radical political solutions

1970s: US cedes Panama Canal to Panama 1990: Panama dictator overthrown by US

1989: US invasion of Panama ends Noriega dictator government (squadron from Mr. Odren’s unit involved) Notorious for human rights violations; involvement in drug

trade After 2000, US concerns with Latin America continued

to focus on issues of commerce, immigration, the drug trade, and political stability. Armed drug lords and cartels that threaten Latin American

global stability

To counter socialism and protect investments, US supported authoritarian military regimes.

Military officers saw themselves as above politics and best equipped to solve nation's ills; remnant of post-colonial past in 19th century with caudillos

In Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and Peru, governments were taken over by military-based rulers with repressive authoritarian and nationalistic inclinations.

Military government economic policies hurt the working class: land ownership and social conditions remained unchanged.

1970s and 1980s: Increase in democratization and return to civilian governments in Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Panama

Leftist rebel groups continued to agitate in some of them, as in Columbia and Peru.

Economies continued to struggle, with inflation a common problem. Large foreign loans taken in 1970s threatened economic stability in Brazil, Peru

and Mexico. Despite difficulties, by the 1990s it appeared democratic trends were well

established.

Latin America remains an amalgamation of cultures and peoples.

Vast majority are Catholic, but Protestants are growing.

Liberation theology: Catholicism and Socialism joined to create change

Art: return to traditional culture for inspiration and social commentary (Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo)

Writers gained world recognition, especially those who penned social criticism.

Dance: tango;salsa; samba; rumba; mambo; paso doble

The struggle for social justice, economic security and political equality still exists.

Distribution of wealth and land is arguably largest problem

1948: United Nations issued “Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” but included little power of enforcement beyond diplomatic or moral pressure.

Women were not allowed to vote until 1929 Ecuador is first nation to grant women’s suffrage Feminist movements pushed for inclusion into elected offices. Industrial jobs expanded to include women. Shifts in attitudes about women’s roles in society developed more

slowly. Migration

Over 30% of the population of Latin America falls under the poverty line contributes to legal and illegal immigration to the US.

Political refugees; search for job opportunities Legal migration to US from Haiti and Cuba because of political

dissatisfaction Migration rural to urban areas is extremely high.

Slums in major cities (Mexico City; Rio de Janeiro) Migration is major and complicated regional issue

Rapid and massive urban growth 1999: Latin America is greatest urbanized region in all developing

locations