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14.2 Latin American
MEXICO1950s & 1960s = many
Mexicans made gains in real wages.
1968 university students in Mexico City protested one-party rule. Police opened fire
Institutional Revolutionary Party (P.R.I.) dominated Mexican politics for decades.
Reforms. New political parties and more freedoms
1970s, vast oil reserves discovered. Govt. became dependent on oil revenues.oil prices dropped in mid-1980s, Mexico
unable to pay foreign debt. Govt. forced to privatization (sale of govt.-owned
companies to private firms.)
LeadersDebt crisis and unemployment
increased with P.R.I. In 2000, Vicente Fox became the first president
elected from (P.A.N.) in 90 years! wealthy family, educated at Harvard, conservativeP.A.N., pro-business,
*2006 P.A.N. Felipe Calderon won closest race in Mexican history. He too is Harvard educated & “pro-U.
S.”Drug Violence, police corruption,
inefficient government and widespread poverty continue
CUBA
Left Wing Fidel Castro’s guerilla forces overthrew right wing dictator Fulgencio Batista in 1959. Many anti-Castro Cubans fled to U. S.
Castro-Soviet political and military support 1960 the U. S. placed a trade embargo on Cuba 1961, the U. S. broke off all diplomatic relations.
1961 president JFK and the C. I. A. supported the failed Bay of Pigs invasion.
Cuba Wants Spread CommunismCuban Missile Crisis of
1962 caused Castro to view the S. U. as an unreliable ally.
Castro wanted to start Latin American leftist Revolutions
Ernesto Che Guevara, an ally of Castro from Argentina, led an uprising inAngola & Bolivia and, but was killed in 1967.
Central America
historical dependent upon single, cash-crop exports.
huge gap between wealthy elite and poor peasants.
Fear of communism, led U. S. to support Strict right wing regimes (eg. El Salvador, Nicaragua
& Panama.)
El Salvador ruled by wealthy elite and military.
army refused to accept results of free elections in 1972.
Late 1970s through 1980s, civil war between leftist guerrillas vs. right wing Army
Pres. Reagan- weapons and training to the Salvadorian army.
Peace settlement was finally reached in 1992.
Nicaragua- Wealthy & powerful Somoza family controlled 1937-79
Somozas used position to enrich family, rather than promote social programs for the masses.
Guerillas group Sandinistas fought against the Government
Sandanistas take power 1979Sandanistas Leftist Gov created- US sends $
to help Contras(against Leftist Gov.)Fighting between Left gov vs Contras -1988
peace talks
Panama became a nation in 1903
broke away from Colombia, w. help from U. S.
U. S. able to build canal and gain political influence in Panama.
Military leader Manuel Noriega seized control in 1983, with U. S. support. However drug dealings
turned U. S. vs. him.
In 1989, Pres. George Bush (Senior) sent U. S. troops to Panama. Noriega was arrested and sent to prison in for drug trafficking.
Rigoberta Menchu(Guatemla)
worked to rescue her fellow Quiche Indians from murder squads of govt.
Her father helped organize a peasant movement, but was killed by govt. troops.
condemned by Guatemalan govt., so she fled to Mexico.
Her autobiography brought world attention to plight of Guatemalan Indians.
won the Nobel Peace Prize &used prize money to set up foundation to help Native Americans.
Immigration to U. S. (both legally and illegally.)
Debate: Inexpensive labor, economic opportunities & humanitarian values vs.Border security, cost of social services & unfair competition for jobs.
Neither Vincente Fox nor George W. Bush at 2004 Summit of the Americas (nor the U. S. Congress since then) have been able to reach a mutually agreed-upon immigration policy.
ARGENTINA 1943 Military Coup
Participated in Military coup of governmentJuan Peron Was rewarded with high level
appointments (secretary of Labor) Liberal changes that helped the working class
increased his support
Terms as President
1st Term-Became president 1946-1951 Changed the constitution and
regained power Gained support of the Poor
“Descamisados”
2nd Term- 1951-1955 Made increasingly liberal social
changes Economy was not improving Forced into Exile by more
conservative Military Coup
Power of his Wife
Wife was a Evita Peron popular actress from working class origins
With her support he was freed from failed coup 1945
She helped him rule and was loved by the masses
His Overthrow1. Become more repressive
2. Working class suffered from unemployment wage freeze and inflation
3. Wealthy and middle class had high taxes and a falling Economy
4. Went Against Industrialist in trying to keep wages up
5. Allowed Foreign investment against what military wanted
-1955 Military Coup forces him out of Power and into Exile
-Returns 1973 to become president again but dies a year later
Military takes power
1976-1983 Military takes power and is very repressive
No other parties are allowed and they control news and speech. 36,000 people who protested gov were
killed1982 Argentina fights GB over
Falkland Islands Both countries claimed to own the
Island England won
Democracy returns in 1983
Chile
1970 Leftist Leader Salvador Allende was elected President Increase wages and nationalize
corporations Nationalization( government
takes over a private company)
US owned companies angry about losing copper mines
Wealthy landowners angry when peasants demanded more rights.
New Ruler
1973 Army took power killing Allende Feared the country turning communist with his left
wing ideas Augusto Pinochet takes power and becomes a dictator
Discuss
Why did the US fear this leader and what are other examples of the us fearing communist like leaders?
Pinochet's Rule
Right wing rule of Pinochet limited freedom or speech and the press
Copper industry stayed in Gov hands
Government outlawed other political parties
1980’s thousands of people were executed and arrested for going against the gov.
“Desaparecidos” those who disappeared
Pinochet pushed out of power in 1989.