REVOLUTION IN CENTRAL AMERICA!!!W.85 Explain the struggle for economic autonomy, political sovereignty, and

social justice that led to revolutions in Guatemala and Cuba, and armed insurgencies and civil war in many parts of Central America. (C, E, P)

Guatemala• The United Fruit Company (an

American banana company) began in 1899.• By 1915, it had bought out its

biggest rival: Cuyamel Fruit.• By mid 1950s, it had obtained 21

other banana companies…. MONOPOLY!• The UFCo was the single largest

landowner in the country.

1951 Election Brings Trouble• Dictator Jorge Ubico had

been giving UFCo low taxes, duty-free imports, and low wages for workers.• Jacobo Arbenz elected

President in 1951.• passed the agrarian

reform law Decree 900.• No more special

concessions given to UFCo.

U.S. Gets Involved to Protect Interests• U.S. claims Arbenz is a radical leftist and must be removed.

• The CIA begins a covert operation to support military coup and install a new government.

• In 1954, Arbenz is overthrown and replaced with a military dictator.• Beginning of half a century of repressive dictatorships in Guatemala

• Guerrilla and civil warfare rages from 1970s-1990s.• Finally in 1996, a peace accord ends the fighting.

Cuba: “a rich country with too many poor people”

• By the 1950s, Cuba is very dependent on the U.S.• Most of modern hotels, casinos, sugar

and tobacco plantations are owned by wealthy Americans.

Cuba = richest country in Latin America but people were in povertyThe U.S. supported the corrupt dictator, Fulgencio Batista because of business interests.

Fidel Castro• In 1953, Castro led an attack on Cuban army barracks.• He was arrested and thrown into prison.• Batista released all political prisoners in 1954.• Castro and his brother went to Mexico and came back with a group of

revolutionaries launching a guerrilla warfare, which led to full-scale revolution.

Goals of Revolution • Castro was focused on ending U.S. dominance, redistributing the

wealth, and reforming society.• His brother, Raul, and Che Guevara wanted to set up a Marxist

regime

• Castro took full control of gov’t• Took away freedom of the press• Free nationwide medical care• Nationalized private property and businesses

Turning Cuba Communist, which leads to confrontation with U.S. and threat to U.S. security

RISE OF DICTATORS IN LATIN AMERICA

W. 86 Compare the rise of military dictatorships in Argentins, Brazil, and Guatemala and the shift of democracy. (H, P)

Argentina

• Juan Peron and his wife Eva rise to power after a military coup in 1943.

• Radical changes:• minimum wage• 8 hr workday• paid vacations• built schools, hospitals ,and

homeless shelters

Juan and Eva Peron = populist (supporter of common ppl’s rights)

Downside of Peron(He becomes a dictator.)• Ruled with an iron fist: suppressed opposition and no freedom of speech• Lacked natural resources so failed at industrialization • Plunged farm economy by placing it under gov’t control

The “Dirty War” 1976-1983• Soldiers seized critics of the gov’t and those falsely accused of being critics were

taken from their homes during the night.• Taken to detention centers where they were tortured and often killed• 10,000-30,000 vanished• Mothers of the vanished marched at Plaza de Mayo every week drawing national

attention to Argentina’s military dictatorship.

Brazil• Dictator Kubitschek promised “50

years of growth in 5 years.”• Brazil = bankrupt and military

dictator took power• 1968-1973 = “Brazilian Miracle” in

growth of industrialization, farming, and mining• People’s wages were frozen to

obtain modernization growth (living standards = decreased)• Death squads kidnapped,

tortured, and killed those who complained.• Oil$$$ rose in the 1970s –

economy spiraled – hyperinflation grew