1. History of Latin AmericaHistory of Latin America
1919thth
-21-21stst
CenturyCentury
2. Post Spanish Nation-BuildingPost Spanish Nation-Building
• 1830’s on: Latin American Republics go
their own way
• Were poorly equipped to make the
transition from colony to self-ruling nation
• Europeans and mestizos, supported by
illiterate lower classes, tend toward
oligarchy as political system.
3. Overarching TrendsOverarching Trends
• Political Chaos
• Ambitions of ruthless leaders often the
cause of the problem
• Strong men, often from the army, become
CAUDILLOS based on the cult of
personalismo
• Examples: Simon Bolivar (Bolivia) and
Argentina’s Peron
4. • Caudillos often veer between two extremes:
1. Liberals: want secular (not religious) education
and redistribution of wealth through land reform
2. Conservatives: want central role of the Church
maintained and status quo (with great inequality)
• Later, military juntas become more
common
5. • MOST OF THE TIME, THE
CONSERVATIVES ARE IN CHARGE.
• WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE
ORDINARY PEOPLE?
6. Yanqui ImperialismYanqui Imperialism
• To “preserve regional stability” President
Taft sent marines into Honduras (1911)
and Nicaragua (1912
• President Wilson sent troops into Haiti
(1915) and Dominican Republic (1916)
• After WWI, worldwide depression has
disastrous effect on Latin America
• Military juntas now stronger than ever
7. WWIIWWII
• FDR’s “Good Neighbor Policy” softens the
US/LA relationship
• After Pearl Harbor 18/20 countries declare
war on the Axis powers or sever
diplomatic relations
• Provision of food and raw materials boosts
LA economy
8. Juntas and Drug Cartels Post 1945Juntas and Drug Cartels Post 1945
• Mexico
• Nicaragua
• Paraguay
• Guatemala
• Haiti
