Chapter 37:Chapter 37:Latin America 1945-Latin America 1945-
PresentPresent
Section 1: Forces Shaping Modern Latin AmericaSection 1: Forces Shaping Modern Latin AmericaSection 2: Latin America, the U.S. and the WorldSection 2: Latin America, the U.S. and the WorldSection 3: Mexico, Central America and the CaribbeanSection 3: Mexico, Central America and the CaribbeanSection 4: Focus on Argentina and BrazilSection 4: Focus on Argentina and Brazil
Section 1: Forces Shaping Section 1: Forces Shaping Modern Latin AmericaModern Latin America
Summary:Summary: Social inequality, population growth and rapid Social inequality, population growth and rapid
urbanization all contributed to unrest in Latin urbanization all contributed to unrest in Latin AmericaAmerica
Section 1: Forces Shaping Section 1: Forces Shaping Modern Latin AmericaModern Latin America
Latin America has a history of inequalityLatin America has a history of inequality A small group of people has always held most of A small group of people has always held most of
the wealththe wealth Others lived in povertyOthers lived in poverty
In many nations, inequality, along with a rigid class In many nations, inequality, along with a rigid class structure, a swiftly growing population and urbanization, structure, a swiftly growing population and urbanization, led to unrestled to unrest
Section 1: Forces Shaping Section 1: Forces Shaping Modern Latin AmericaModern Latin America
Catholic priests and nuns started a liberation Catholic priests and nuns started a liberation theology movement that called for theology movement that called for social social justicejustice and an end to poverty and an end to poverty
Most military dictators were against social Most military dictators were against social reformreform They said strict control would bring orderThey said strict control would bring order In the 1960s and 1970s, rebels fought for a socialist In the 1960s and 1970s, rebels fought for a socialist
revolution that would bring equalityrevolution that would bring equality
Section 1: Forces Shaping Section 1: Forces Shaping Modern Latin AmericaModern Latin America
After WWII, leaders worked to build economic After WWII, leaders worked to build economic developmentdevelopment New local industries cut the need for imported New local industries cut the need for imported
goodsgoods However, many factories put out poor quality goodsHowever, many factories put out poor quality goods Farming became big businessFarming became big business
Companies grew Companies grew cash cropscash crops on the best farmlands on the best farmlands As a result, more food had to be importedAs a result, more food had to be imported
Section 1: Forces Shaping Section 1: Forces Shaping Modern Latin AmericaModern Latin America
In the 1980s, Economies slowedIn the 1980s, Economies slowed Governments cut spending, raised prices and Governments cut spending, raised prices and
welcomed foreign businesseswelcomed foreign businesses Many Latin American economies picked up in the 1990sMany Latin American economies picked up in the 1990s
Section 1: Forces Shaping Section 1: Forces Shaping Modern Latin AmericaModern Latin America
In Latin America, as in Africa, an urban In Latin America, as in Africa, an urban migration brought changemigration brought change It broke up families and weakened cultural traditionsIt broke up families and weakened cultural traditions Many city women took jobs outside the homeMany city women took jobs outside the home
Some women entered politicsSome women entered politics Women became a force for social change, working for Women became a force for social change, working for
better schools and health carebetter schools and health care
Section 2: Latin America, Section 2: Latin America, the U.S. and the Worldthe U.S. and the World
Summary:Summary: Throughout the 1900s, Latin American nations tried Throughout the 1900s, Latin American nations tried
to limit US influence and exercise greater to limit US influence and exercise greater independenceindependence
Section 2: Latin America, Section 2: Latin America, the U.S. and the Worldthe U.S. and the World
After WWII, the U.S. wanted to keep After WWII, the U.S. wanted to keep communism out of the Western Hemispherecommunism out of the Western Hemisphere In 1948, it joined the countries of Latin America in In 1948, it joined the countries of Latin America in
the Organization of American States (OAS)the Organization of American States (OAS) Members pledged to promote democracy and human Members pledged to promote democracy and human
rightsrights Each nation promised to stay out of the affairs of the Each nation promised to stay out of the affairs of the
othersothers
Section 2: Latin America, Section 2: Latin America, the U.S. and the Worldthe U.S. and the World
Before WWII, the U.S. and the island nation of Before WWII, the U.S. and the island nation of Cuba were friendlyCuba were friendly Then in 1959, Fidel Castro led a communist revolt Then in 1959, Fidel Castro led a communist revolt
against a dictator that the U.S. government against a dictator that the U.S. government supportedsupported
Castro took control of Cuba and formed ties with the Castro took control of Cuba and formed ties with the Soviet UnionSoviet Union
Cold War tensions flared when the Soviets placed Cold War tensions flared when the Soviets placed nuclear missiles on Cuban basesnuclear missiles on Cuban bases
Section 2: Latin America, Section 2: Latin America, the U.S. and the Worldthe U.S. and the World
Castro tried to stir revolt in other landsCastro tried to stir revolt in other lands In response, the U.S. turned to a policy of In response, the U.S. turned to a policy of
interventionintervention, or involvement in Latin America, or involvement in Latin America U.S. money, arms and troops helped crush U.S. money, arms and troops helped crush
communist rebelscommunist rebels At times, the aid went to harsh noncommunist rulersAt times, the aid went to harsh noncommunist rulers Many people spoke out against these U.S. policiesMany people spoke out against these U.S. policies
Section 2: Latin America, Section 2: Latin America, the U.S. and the Worldthe U.S. and the World
Today, Latin America has links throughout the Today, Latin America has links throughout the worldworld Venezuela joined with Arab nations to set oil pricesVenezuela joined with Arab nations to set oil prices Brazil worked with African lands to protect coffee Brazil worked with African lands to protect coffee
pricesprices Regions signed pacts to end tariffs and allow free tradeRegions signed pacts to end tariffs and allow free trade The The AmericasAmericas joined forces to control the drug trade and joined forces to control the drug trade and
save the rain forestssave the rain forests
Section 3: Mexico, Central Section 3: Mexico, Central America and the CaribbeanAmerica and the Caribbean
Summary:Summary: During the postwar era, several Central American During the postwar era, several Central American
countries were battered by civil wars, while Mexico countries were battered by civil wars, while Mexico had little turmoilhad little turmoil
Section 3: Mexico, Central Section 3: Mexico, Central America and the CaribbeanAmerica and the Caribbean
After WWII, Mexico worked to cut foreign After WWII, Mexico worked to cut foreign influenceinfluence It built the second largest economy in Latin AmericaIt built the second largest economy in Latin America What had been a farm economy became a mostly What had been a farm economy became a mostly
urban, industrial oneurban, industrial one
Section 3: Mexico, Central Section 3: Mexico, Central America and the CaribbeanAmerica and the Caribbean
Mexico enjoyed success, but faced troubles, Mexico enjoyed success, but faced troubles, tootoo In the late 1970s, new oil fields and high energy In the late 1970s, new oil fields and high energy
prices meant economic boomprices meant economic boom When the 1980s brought world When the 1980s brought world recessionrecession, a time , a time
when business is poor, oil prices fell and Mexico when business is poor, oil prices fell and Mexico went into debtwent into debt
Although foreign factories were built to make use of Although foreign factories were built to make use of cheap Mexican labor, there were never enough jobscheap Mexican labor, there were never enough jobs
The gap between rich and poor remainedThe gap between rich and poor remained
Section 3: Mexico, Central Section 3: Mexico, Central America and the CaribbeanAmerica and the Caribbean
Central America, too, had gaps between rich Central America, too, had gaps between rich and poorand poor Leaders stole from the poor and killed those who Leaders stole from the poor and killed those who
spoke out against themspoke out against them Cruelty, corrupt rule and poverty sparked civil wars in Cruelty, corrupt rule and poverty sparked civil wars in
Nicaragua, Guatemala and El SalvadorNicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador Because the U.S. saw most rebels as communist threats, it Because the U.S. saw most rebels as communist threats, it
helped some military dictators to hold on to powerhelped some military dictators to hold on to power
Section 3: Mexico, Central Section 3: Mexico, Central America and the CaribbeanAmerica and the Caribbean
After a period of harsh rule, the island of Haiti After a period of harsh rule, the island of Haiti held free elections in 1990held free elections in 1990 A priest, A priest, Jean-Bertrand AristideJean-Bertrand Aristide, won the election , won the election
but was exiled in a military coupbut was exiled in a military coup The U.S. helped to bring Aristide back to build a The U.S. helped to bring Aristide back to build a
democracydemocracy It was a hard job because Haiti was the poorest nation in It was a hard job because Haiti was the poorest nation in
Latin AmericaLatin America The old ruling class did not care about human rightsThe old ruling class did not care about human rights People wondered if the new democracy could survivePeople wondered if the new democracy could survive
Section 4: Section 4: Focus on Argentina and BrazilFocus on Argentina and Brazil
Summary:Summary: History and geography have shaped Argentina’s History and geography have shaped Argentina’s
and Brazil’s efforts to develop stable governments and Brazil’s efforts to develop stable governments and strong economiesand strong economies
Section 4: Section 4: Focus on Argentina and BrazilFocus on Argentina and Brazil
Argentina and Brazil are the largest South Argentina and Brazil are the largest South American nationsAmerican nations Each has had its ups and downs while building Each has had its ups and downs while building
democracy and a strong economydemocracy and a strong economy
Section 4: Section 4: Focus on Argentina and BrazilFocus on Argentina and Brazil
In 1946, Argentina made Juan Peron presidentIn 1946, Argentina made Juan Peron president Nationalists liked his ban on foreign-owned Nationalists liked his ban on foreign-owned
businessbusiness The urban poor liked higher wages, strong labor The urban poor liked higher wages, strong labor
unions and social reformsunions and social reforms Peron, and his wife Eva worked to be popularPeron, and his wife Eva worked to be popular Eva helped the poor, building clinics and child-care Eva helped the poor, building clinics and child-care
centerscenters To gain votes for her husband, she helped women in To gain votes for her husband, she helped women in
Argentina win the voteArgentina win the vote
Section 4: Section 4: Focus on Argentina and BrazilFocus on Argentina and Brazil
While Peron wooed the urban poor, he put While Peron wooed the urban poor, he put down opposition to his strict ruledown opposition to his strict rule His economic policies led to huge debts, and in His economic policies led to huge debts, and in
1955 he lost power in a military coup1955 he lost power in a military coup
Section 4: Section 4: Focus on Argentina and BrazilFocus on Argentina and Brazil
In Brazil and Argentina, economic hardships led In Brazil and Argentina, economic hardships led to military coupsto military coups Military leaders in both countries killed their criticsMilitary leaders in both countries killed their critics In the 1980s, democracy returned to Argentina and In the 1980s, democracy returned to Argentina and
Brazil through electionsBrazil through elections It has survivedIt has survived
Section 4: Section 4: Focus on Argentina and BrazilFocus on Argentina and Brazil
The 1990s brought economic growthThe 1990s brought economic growth Brazil had learned it could not count on exports of Brazil had learned it could not count on exports of
rubber and coffeerubber and coffee In the 1930s it began to In the 1930s it began to diversifydiversify, or make different , or make different
productsproducts The government built an inland capitalThe government built an inland capital It also settled new land and pushed development in the It also settled new land and pushed development in the
AmazonAmazon This spurred economic growth and helped ease overcrowded This spurred economic growth and helped ease overcrowded
cities, but hurt the rain forestscities, but hurt the rain forests
Section 4: Section 4: Focus on Argentina and BrazilFocus on Argentina and Brazil
In Argentina, a good economy paid for new In Argentina, a good economy paid for new social programssocial programs The country soon had the highest literacy rate in The country soon had the highest literacy rate in
Latin AmericaLatin America Still, wealth belonged to the fewStill, wealth belonged to the few