Transcript US involvement in Latin America

US involvement in
Latin America
Why get involved
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Protect economic
interests
Stop the infiltration of
socialists and
communist - fear of
communism
Improve conditions for
the people
Monroe Doctrine
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1823
After Napoleon was
defeated – Spain wanted to
reclaim colonies
President James Monroe
sends warning
All European nations had to
stay out of the Americans
Mexican American War
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Began over a
boarder
dispute
United States
wins land
from Mexico
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Lost half her
territory
Lasting
bitterness
towards US
Spanish American War
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1898
America goes to war with
Spain
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Gained new territories
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Puerto Rico and Cuba
Platt Amendment
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To protect economic interests
we can protect US citizens and
interest in Cuba
We get to two navel bases
Increased US influence in the
region
Roosevelt Corollary
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Extension of the Monroe
Doctrine
Says the United States
could use force in Latin
America when our
interests were threatened
intervene to stabilize the
economic affairs of
nations in the Caribbean
and Central America if
they were unable to pay
their international debts
Building of the Panama Canal
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Needed the canal
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1.economic reasons
2. Military reasons
Supported a Panamanian revolt
Panama and United States sign a treaty
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$10 million an the annual rent of $250,000 to the land to
build the canal
One of the world’s great engineering feats
Increased US investment in Latin America
Turned it back over to the Panamanians in 1999
US business in the region
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In the 1900’s the United States begins to
get involved in Latin America
1899 United Fruit Company goes into
Nicaragua and Guatemala
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By 1970 owned more land then
anyone in Guatemala
1950 American companies (Shell,
Woolworth, Esso) move into Cuba
Other move into Latin America –
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Sears, Citigroup, Westinghouse
and Coca-Cola
Good Neighbor Policy
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FDR
Withdrew armed forced
stationed in Latin America
Keep an eye on Latin America
but in a more peaceful way
Cooperation and trade instead
of military intervention to
promote stability and growth in
the region
Purpose to reduce military
intervention
Bay of Pigs
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Unsuccessful attempt to over
through Fidel Castro
Planned by CIA and
Eisenhower approved by
Kennedy
Disaster – humiliating defeat
Relations between the two
counties were severed, leading
to the tensions that persist
today
Cuban Missile Crisis
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Soviet attempt to deploy missiles
in Cuba on 1962
an American spy plane revealed
missile bases being built in Cuba
ended two weeks later on when
President JFK UN Secretary
General U Thant reached an
agreement with the Soviets
Soviets would dismantle the
missiles in Cuba US
US no invasion of Cuba and
removal of US missiles in
Turkey.
Kennedy’s Alliance for Progress
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International development program
started by President Kennedy
it aimed to strengthen democratic
government and promote social and
economic reforms
US provided loans and aid built some
schools and hospitals, but by the early
1970s it was widely viewed as a
failure
Land reform was not achieved,
population growth outstripped gains in
health and welfare, and the U.S.
willingness to support military
dictators to prevent communist take
over
NAFTA
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North American Free Trade Agreement
Reduced trade restrictions and increased flow of goods
Trade between US, Canada and Mexico increased 10-15%
Controversial
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In US labor groups fear jobs will head south of the boarder
Mexico viewpoint it has helped boost exports and create thousands of
jobs
Other Latin America countries are watching and waiting
Cold War Impact on Latin America
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Has impacted US involvement in Latin
America
Became involved to stop the spread of
socialism and communism
Increased aid to Latin America
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Military to stop socialist uprising
Finical to reduce poverty
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Little success
Guatemala
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First involvement
Reform President Jacobo Arbenz passed a land reform law
which allowed the government to take over and distribute
unused land
Most land was owned by the United Fruit Company
Believing that the Guatemalan gov was controlled by
Communist US armed a rebel group and overthrew Arbenz
Colonel Carlos Castillo Armas was installed as president in
1954
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Dismantled many of Arbenz reforms
40 years of violence follows
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Results
 Started an era of military rule in Central
America
 Government acted with impunity to wipe out
dissent and gain wealth for themselves and
their friends
 killing of defenseless people became state
policy in Guatemala
 Between 1954 and 1981, more than 60,000
people were murdered
 Guatemala continues to suffer the worst record
of human rights abuses in Latin America
Nicaragua
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United States supports the dynasty of the Somoza
family
Due to economic hardships, corruptions and poor
relief aid after a major earthquake many joined the
the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN)
Sandinistas take power in 1979
Reagan convinced the FSLN was joining with Cuba
and supporting Marxist revolutionary movements
throughout Latin America
His administration authorized CIA to begin
financing, arming and training rebels, known as
Contras
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Fought an economic war
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Mines in the harbors, US trade embargo
Boland Act passed by US Congress
US still funds Contras
Iran – Contra Affair
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Supply a moderate group in Iran to over through the
Ayatollah Khomeni and work to the release of Am
hostages taken by Hezbollah (Arms for hostages)
With money received in the sale of guns, fund the Contras
(Iran – Contra Affair)
El Salvador
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Reform groups vs right-wing military and the
landowning oligarchy
President Reagan increased aid to government
Sent men to train military
Misrepresented to the American public the
actions of the government and said it was
making progress towards human rights
Chile
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1970 Allende became elected to lead the country
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He was a Marxist
He nationalized nation’s industries
Stepped up land reforms
Angered foreign investors
US encouraged economic chaos in Chile
Overthrow of Allende’s government by General
Pinochet
Chile under control of a repressive military regime
US and Latin America today
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Bush has “lost” Latin
America”
Increasing “AntiAmerican” ideals
More Latin American
countries are chosen left
leaning governments
hoping for change
US is still the most
important buyer of Latin
American’s goods – 50%