POLITICAL & ECONOMIC CHANGE IN LATIN AMERICAPost-Cold War Era

RECAP: HOW DID THE END OF WWII AFFECT THE WORLD?

Rise of communism in Soviet Union, China Cold War, Third World countries,

brinksmanship

Migration of Jews to Palestine & the creation of Israel conflict in the Middle East

Collapse of European imperialism colonies wanted independence after fighting in WWII

Many nations have experienced unrest since 1945…

OAS formed = Organization of American States

Goal was to help Latin American countries cooperate after WWII

Key Concept

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The USA has frequently intervened in the politics of Latin America. This has caused resentment among many Latin Americans

Why so much unrest?Incredible

diversityGeography

prevented unityEconomic

exploitation left nations unable to support themselves--looked towards authoritarian dictators

ArgentinaDictator Juan PeronRose to power during Great

DepressionBoosted wages, but very repressiveEconomic policy led to debt

Nicaragua1979 civil warCommunist Sandinistas vs capitalist

ContrasBecame democracy in 1990

MexicoAfter the Mexican Revolution,

the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) dominated Mexican politics between 1960 and 2000, with many periods of upheaval

Problems: Wealth gap, population explosion, urbanization, poverty, social classes descended from imperialism

PanamaCartels: Criminal gangs that smuggle

drugsUS invaded in 1989 to stop drug tradePanama Canal connects Atlantic and

Pacific OceanPanama assumed control of the canal in 2000 (built in 1914, controlled by US)