LATIN AMERICA

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.

White Board

Write the 2 parties in the US?

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

White Board

What would you say is the biggest issue in Mexico and Why?

White Board Communist Questions

Political Spectrum

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.

White Boards

What group of people left Cuba and why?

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.

Discuss

What is the goal of US intervention in Latin American Countries 1960-1990

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.

South America

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

White Board

How is this position going to help Peron take power?

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

White Board

Would you consider Peron a dictator? Why or why not?

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.