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