Post World War II Latin America

Chapter 32

Unit 6: 1900-Present

Searching for Stability

Latin American nations looked to political institutions that promised social and economic reforms

Authoritarian regimes in Brazil and Argentina as a result of the Great Depression

• Juan Peron’s fascist state sheltered Nazis after World War II

Move towards socialism or communism led to increased U.S. intervention during the Cold War

One-Party SystemParty of the Institutionalized Revolution (PRI) dominated Mexico’s elections from the 1930s to 2000

• Corruption and lack of social reforms led to defeat

In 1994, Mexico signed the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with the United States

Zapatistas, an armed guerrilla movement in Chiapas, wants autonomy and to preserve traditional practices

U.S. Intervention

• Franklin Roosevelt’s Good Neighbor Policy promisedstop direct intervention

• The threat of communism reignited American involveme

• Created banana republics with dictators loyal to the U.S.

• In 1954, the CIA overthrew the Guatemalan government which threatened operations of the United Fruit Compan(Chiquita)

• Backed Augusto Pinochet’s authoritarian overthrow socialist president Salvadore Allende in Chile

CubaIn 1959, Authoritarian Fulgencio Batista was overthrown by socialist revolutionaries Fidel Castro

Cuban Missile Crisis increased tension between U.S. and Soviets in 1962

Broke off relations with U.S. in 1961, and relied on aid from the Soviet Union

• Trade embargo remained in place until 2015

Reform

• Women’s political rights have increased but they are still paid less than men

• Women brought attention to human rights violations throughout Latin Amercan

• High population growth led to migration to urban areas and to the United States

• Liberation theology directed Catholicism towards social justice

• Church officials helped the poor and spoke out against political abuses