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Post WWII Latin America

Post WWII Latin America. Double Standards & Hypocrisy. Democracy=. ????. Problems with Independence. Strong Military Weak Economy—dependent on single cash crops Weak Social Structure—large gap between the rich & poor All of these problems lead to instability. Brazil 1822-1964.

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Post WWII Latin America

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  1. Post WWII Latin America Double Standards & Hypocrisy

  2. Democracy= • ????

  3. Problems with Independence • Strong Military • Weak Economy—dependent on single cash crops • Weak Social Structure—large gap between the rich & poor • All of these problems lead to instability

  4. Brazil 1822-1964 • Monarchy from independence in 1822-1889 • 1889-1930s Republic controlled by the wealthy • 1930-1945 Getulio Vargas ruled as a dictator but modernized the nation • 1945 Democratic Constitution established, followed by economic growth • 1964 Military seizes power, state controlled economy

  5. Brazil 1974-1989 • 1974 General Geisel introduces democratic reforms • 1982 Brazil stops paying it’s foreign debt • 1986 Democratic elections held • 1988 New constitution limits presidential powers • 1989 First direct elections held but economic problems continue

  6. Brazil 1992-present • 1992 Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro • 1994 Cardoso elected president, admits existence of slavery • 2000 500th Anniversary celebrations, indigenous Indians claim genocide continues • 2002 Brazil wins 5th World Cup Title • 2010 First woman elected President • 2011 Road connecting Peru’s Pacific coast to Brazil’s Atlantic coast opens

  7. Mexico 1917-1940 • Relatively stable for most of the 20th century • 1917 Constitution organized a democratic government • 1920-1934 Several generals from the National Revolutionary Party elected president • 1934-1940 President Cardenas tries to improve life for lower classes, nationalizes oil industry

  8. Mexico 1940-1990s • National Revolutionary Party becomes Institutional Reform Party, PRI • Although elections are held the PRI uses corruption to maintain power • 1988 Salinas of the opposition party wins presidential election • Salinas & Clinton sign NAFTA to allow free trade between US & Mexico

  9. Mexico 1990s-today • 1994 Rebellion in Chiapas begins • 2000 PRI driven out of power with the election of Vincente Fox • Fox attempted to reform the police & political corruption & end the revolt in Chiapas • Illegal immigration from Mexico is an issue with US relations • Drug cartels & violence also a problem along the border, especially in Juarez

  10. Argentina 1939-1949 • 1939 Argentina neutral in WWII • 1943 Military coup, favors Japan & Germany but breaks ties & declares war in 1945 • 1946 Gen. Juan Peron elected president by promising higher wages & social security, Eva Peron controls labor relations • 1949 Disrespect to the government is outlawed & opposition newspapers suppressed

  11. Argentina 1951-1974 • 1951 Gen. Peron re-elected in a landslide • 1952 Eva Peron dies of cancer • 1955 Peron overthrown by a military coup, 1853 constitution reinstated • 1966 Military coup • 1973 Peronist candidate wins presidency, then resigns & Juan Peron takes office, again • 1974 Juan Peron dies, his 3rd wife, Isabel Peron, becomes 1st woman president in the Western Hemisphere

  12. Argentina 1975- today • 1975 300% inflation destroys the economy • 1976 Military coup, thousands “disappear” in the Dirty War against the dictatorship • 1982 Falklands War lost to Great Britain • 1983 Civilian government returns, investigation into “Dirty War” begins • Economic problems continue • Anti-Semitic terrorist acts continue to occur

  13. Cuba • 1959 Fidel Castro overthrows the unpopular but U.S. supported dictator, Fulgencio Batista • Castro establishes a totalitarian dictatorship • 1961 Bay of Pigs-U.S. trained rebels land in Cuba but fail to overthrow Castro without air support • 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis-closest the world came to nuclear war

  14. Nicaragua • 1933 Somoza family rules Nicaragua as dictators • 1979 Sandinistas overthrow the dictatorship • Both US & USSR give aid to Daniel Ortega & the Sandinistas, until aid El Salvador is involved • US then aids the anti-communist Contras • 1990 free elections are held

  15. El Salvador • 1977 Gen. Carlos Romero elected president, leftist rebel group FMLN begins retaliation for attacks on peasants • 1979-1981 30,000 people killed by right-wing government ‘death squads’ • 1980 Archbishop of San Salvador & human rights advocate, Oscar Romero assassinated during mass • 1980 1st civilian president in 50 years elected

  16. Summary • Liberation Theology- priests & nuns have led many of the revolutions & human rights campaigns in Latin America because they work with the poor & they are educated • Weak economies-poor infrastructure & little economic opportunity or growth • Extremes in wealth- a few very wealthy families & majority live in grinding poverty • Strong Military-frequent military coups prevent economic growth & therefore maintain the extremes in wealth

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