Since 1945, there has much political, economic and social
unrest in Latin America Economic failure led to authoritarian and
military rule Great social inequality, wide gap between rich and
poor (land = power) 1980s and 1990s showed movement towards
democratization in many nations *Costa Rica long history of a
stable democratic govt KEY IDEAS COSTA RICA
Slide 3
Bananas Cattle Coffee Copper Fish Oil Sugar cane Tobacco Wheat
LATIN AMERICAN EXPORTS
Slide 4
Liberation Theology Clergy church leaders become proponents of
social reform Priests and nuns struggled against oppressive
military regimes RELIGION
Slide 5
1900, richest nation in LA, but was devastated by the Great
Depression 1946,military coup brings Juan Peron (dictator) to power
Promises of stability, gains support Limited foreign-owned business
by promoting imports substitution local manufacturers produce goods
at home to replace imported products Began great social reforms but
huge debts lead to being overthrown by a military coup in 1955
1976-1983, Dirty war Military arrested, tortured, and killed
thousands of political dissidents (HRV 20,000 die) Mothers of the
Plaza de Mayo win worldwide attention Democracy restored in 1983
ARGENTINA
Slide 6
1960-96, Civil War Between military govt and landowners and the
indigenous (locals) 30,000 die (HRV) 1996, rebels gave up and peace
was reached Democratization GUATEMALA
Slide 7
Somoza family rules from 1936-1979 Repressive, but close ties
to US Nicaraguan Revolution, 1979 Sandinistas (reform minded
nationalists and communists (Marxist)) overthrow Somoza govt
Sandinistas in power Government resembled a communist government
Closer ties to Cuba Contras opposite of Sandinistas, a counter
revolutionary group (supported by the USA) Civil War between the
two groups Economically devastating, death 1990, Sandinistas hand
over power to a freely elected president NICARAGUA
Slide 8
Post-WWII Success and Troubles Institutional Revolutionary
Party (PRI)-ruled between 1960-2000 (due to the Mexican Revolution)
1970s, new oil fields and high energy prices meant economic boom
1980s brought world recession, a time when business is poor, oil
prices fell and Mexico went into debt Never enough jobs;
urbanization, slums The gap between rich and poor remained Upper
European Poor Mestizo, Native American, African Population
explosion not enough land to grow food Demands for change Vicente
Fox elected president, end to PRI rule MEXICO
Slide 9
Links with the US 1950s, Organization of American States (OAS)
Cooperation and peaceful resolution Formed to strengthen democracy,
promote human rights, confront problems of poverty, terrorism,
illegal drugs, and corruption NAFTA Remove trade barriers between
Mexico, US, Canada Promote investment and economic growth in Mexico
MEXICO
Slide 10
Corruption Late 1980s, Panamanian leader, Manuel Noriega,
suspected of helping criminal gangs called cartels smuggle drugs
into the US 1989, US troops invade of Panama and arrest Noriega
More stability and democracy in 1990s Panama Canal Constructed in
the early 1900s by America Shortened travel time between Atlantic
and Pacific Ocean Panama assumed complete control on January 1,
2000 PANAMA
Slide 11
1952, Batista gains power repressive, corrupt 1959, Fidel
Castro overthrows Fulgencio Batista with guerilla army and
establishes a communist dictatorship Supported by peasants who
wanted change Govt control of business and industry (socialist
reforms) Unequal distribution of wealth Standard of living rises
for many, however Conflict with US US trade embargo (economic
sanctions) Bay of Pigs Invasion Cuban Missile Crisis US naval
blockade of Cuba After fall of USSR, Cubas economy has suffered
greatly CUBA
Slide 12
1973, Augusto Pinochet overthrows Salvatore Allende (Marxist)
Pinochet regime (military govt) most brutal in Chiles history
Opponents imprisoned, tortured, murdered (HRV) Free elections in
1989, movement toward democracy and economic stability CHILE
