CHAPTER 32

Latin America Revolution and Reaction into the 21st Century

Background Info• Tense political front→waiting for a coup

• Salvador Allende (socialist)o Respect for Constitutiono Popular Unityo Seized by military, death→repression

Non liberal economics→economic stability

• General Augusto Pinocheto Crimes against humanity→arrested

Raised many questions about politics

• First, Second, Third world countries

• Latin America-agricultural and mineral production

• Strong relationships between countries→strong effects

• Transformation of Latin American life

Latin America After World War II*

• Not very involved in WWII

• Cold war→revolutionary agitationo Marxist inspiration and Soviet

backing

• Third world decolonization movemento Reactions about economic

dependency

• Juan Peron (Argentina)o Led to “dirty war”

Torture and execution of opponents

Mexico and the PRI• Party of the Institutionalized Revolution (PRI)

o Stability and control o Struggled to function due to corruption

• Zapatistas→those involved in guerilla movement (Emiliano Zapata)o Exemplified the lack of government

• North American Free Trade Agreemento Increased mexican trade→especially with Americao Economic and political interactions (Am&mex)

• Vicente Foxo Leader of PAN (National Action party)o Attempted to improve conditions for mexican workers in US

Radical Options in the 1950s*

• Radical unrest→tensions

• Marxian socialismo Dangerous due to context and ideologies

• Economic, social, and political failures→looking for solutionso Revolutions- short term solutiono Growing separation of social classes

Guatemala: Reform and U.S. Intervention• Attempted Radical solutions in Guatemala

• Illiterate, poor health, high mortality faced Guatemala

• Economy dependent on exportso Coffee and bananas

• Juan Jose Arevalo (president)o Spiritual socialism

Land reform, better rights

• United Fruit Company

• CIA Invaded Guatemalao Arbenz government fello Minimal reforms

• Guatemala failed at Radical exchange→external interventiono Need for internal and foreign opposition

The Cuban Revolution: Socialism in the Caribbean• American interest in Cuban politics and economics

• Fulgencio Batista-rulero Democratic constitutiono Corruption and opposition

• Fidel Castro-lawyero Attack on military barracks

Trial allowed him to express revolutionary ideals

• Ernesto “Che Guevara”o Created small military force(with Castro)

Barbudos (bearded rebels)

• Sweeping change (Castro)

• Relations with US broken offo Cuba dependent on Soviet Uniono US invasion

The Search for Reform and the Military Option*

• Bureaucratic authoritarian regimes→cold war interests of US

• LA revolutions left social and economic structures unchangedo PRI struggled to keep control

• Christian Democratic partieso Religion provided guidance

• Liberation theologyo Catholic and socialist ideaso Emphasis on social equality

• Religion emphasizedo Church gains power

“The trouble with Brazil is not an excess of communist doctrine but a lack of Christian justice”

~Dom Helder da Camara (Archbishop of Pernambuco)

Out of the Barracks: Soldiers Take Power• Military→professionalized

o Soldiers felt they were the “true representatives of the nation” Thought they could solve problems

o Soldiers began intervening in politics Attempt to take over government New bureaucratic authoritarian regime Handled issues→dirty war Some economic improvements

• Peruvian→social program, land reform

• Chile/Uruguay→anticommunist

• Argentina→nationalism, war with Britain over Falkland Islands→loss credibility

The New Democratic Trends

• 1980’s o Military return gov’t to civilian politicians

Less fear of populist parties (Peronists & Apristas)

Fear of Cuban communism goneo Redemocratization → not global

Shining Path- guerrilla movement (Peru, Colombia)

Venezuela and Brazil → corruption lead to fall of presidents

The United States and Latin America: Continuing Presence

• U. S. as predominant powero end 19th century→ building of Panama Canalo L.A. takes loans from U.S.o Direct U.S. military interventions

• Augusto Sandino → Nicaragua, o led resistance movement against U.S. forceso later Good Neighbor policyo Alliance of Progress

• Support for U.S. interventiono conservative governments o banana republics

Societies in Search of Change*

• Continuation of discriminationo insult to be called Indiano Indian and African elements define

societyo Latin America known for being diverse

→ still discriminationo Diverse cities: Brazil, Nicaragua, and

Guatemala

Slow Change in Women’s Roles

● Voting Rights → 1940○ still place is in the home○ Fear of being conservative○ religion pushed for

conservatism ○ change through feminist

movement○ still little political impact

The Movement of People

● Mass Urbanization ○ many urban cities- need for jobs, job creation can’t keep up ○ Biggest cities → 13 million people

● Politics ○ Haitians → flee political repression

● Population boom:○ increased fertility, low mortality

● 1900- tons movement to Latin America● Early 20th century-less movement to Latin America● Migration

○ where jobs are○ illegal & legal migration→people willing to die to

migrate

Cultural Reflections of Despair and Hope● Religion

○ Catholicism: determines family, gender relations, social interaction, business

● Literature “magical realism”

● Culture spurred from African & Indian traditions

Struggling Toward the Future in a Global Economy

● Societies unable to change○ class interests○ international conditions○ power politics

● Globalization Impact○ problems with distribution of wealth

■ poor become poorer○ Cultural Issues

■ integration into world market→ puts tradition at risk