Revolution and Intervention
Trends in Latin America
• Roots of problems in Latin America come from colonialism
• After WWII, Turning to industrialization instead of economy was based on cash crops/raw materials
• Import-substitution led industrialization- economic policy of replacing certain imported goods with a country’s own manufactured goods
• Still relied on foreign countries for investments, technology, loans, military aid
Economic Trends
• Rural land issues
• Small group of elites owned land in Latin America (many tied to US business)
• Peasants had no land
Social Trends• Large gap between rich and
poor
• Liberation Theology- belief that the church should be active in the struggle for economic/ social equality
• Couldn’t make money in rural, moved to cities= rapid urbanization
• Shortages of food, housing, safe drinking water
The Cuban Revolution
• Social inequality and U.S. influence led to revolt that brought communism
• Cuba depended on U.S.
• 1950s modern hotels/casinos owned by Americans and Cuban elite
• U.S. owned plantations
• Cuba one of richest countries in Latin America but VERY LITTLE to Cubans
Reasons for the Revolt
• Business interest encouraged U.S. govt support corrupt dictators in Cuba
• Fulgencio Batista “a rich country with too many poor people”
• 1953 Fidel Castro led unsuccessful attack on Cuban army barracks (arrested)
• 2 years later, Castro guerrilla war became full-scale revolution
• Batista fled 1959, Castro left in control
Goals of the Revolution
• Support to get rid of Batista but didn’t know what Castro would do
• Marxist regime
• Castro wanted to end U.S. dominance, redistribution of wealth, reforming society
Goals of the Revolution• 1961 ended illiteracy within
1 year
• Created system of free, nationwide medical care
• Limited the size of landholdings and nationalized all private property (reduce economic inequality)
• Castro took full control of government, took away freedom of press
• Cuba more towards communism
U.S. Involvement• Communism during Cold War worried
U.S.
• Latin American apart of sphere of influence
• Organization of American States (OAS)- organization that promotes economic and military cooperation
• 1961 Bay of Pigs- mission spark nationwide uprising against Castro-failed
• 1962 CIA learned Soviet Union building nuclear weapons in Cuba- Kennedy ordered naval blockade Cuban Missile Crisis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3fDkx7JZW0
Results of the Revolution
• Mixed results
• Cubans good access to health care and education
• Civil liberties were restricted under one-party system
• Economic policies made many leave Cuba
• Castro relied on Soviet Union, 1991 Soviet collapsed so did Cuba
Guatemala• 1952 President Jacobo Arbenz
used land reform to take over large landholdings & distribute land to peasants
• Hurt the United Fruit Company
• U.S. felt Guatemala president be removed
• 1954 CIA intervened replaced him with military dictator
• 1970-1990s guerillas and govt raged between war, 1996 peace accord
El Salvador
• Military dictatorship kept power through unfair elections
• 1980 gunned down Archbishop Oscar Romero- govt critic who supported Liberation Theology
• War between communist-supported guerrilla groups and army
• “death squads” countryside killing civilians
Nicaragua
• Ruled by the Somoza family (controlled ¼ countries land)
• Sandinistas- revolutionary group took control of capital
• Junta- group of leaders who rule jointly