US involvement in Latin America

Why get involved

Protect economic interests

Stop the infiltration of socialists and communist - fear of communism

Improve conditions for the people

Monroe Doctrine 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 Began over a

boarder dispute

United States wins land from Mexico Lost half her

territory Lasting

bitterness towards US

Spanish American War 1898 America goes to war with

Spain To protect economic interests

Gained new territories Puerto Rico and Cuba

Platt Amendment we can protect US citizens and

interest in Cuba We get to two navel bases

Increased US influence in the region

Roosevelt Corollary 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 Needed the canal

1.economic reasons 2. Military reasons

Supported a Panamanian revolt Panama and United States sign a treaty

$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

In the 1900’s the United States begins to get involved in Latin America

1899 United Fruit Company goes into Nicaragua and Guatemala By 1970 owned more land then

anyone in Guatemala 1950 American companies (Shell,

Woolworth, Esso) move into Cuba Other move into Latin America –

Sears, Citigroup, Westinghouse and Coca-Cola

Good Neighbor Policy 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 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 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.

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

Kennedy’s Alliance for Progress

NAFTA North American Free Trade Agreement Reduced trade restrictions and increased flow of goods Trade between US, Canada and Mexico increased 10-15% Controversial

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

Has impacted US involvement in Latin America

Became involved to stop the spread of socialism and communism

Increased aid to Latin America Military to stop socialist uprising Finical to reduce poverty

Little success

Guatemala 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 Dismantled many of Arbenz reforms

40 years of violence follows

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 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

Fought an economic war Mines in the harbors, US trade embargo

Boland Act passed by US Congress US still funds Contras Iran – Contra Affair

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 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 1970 Allende became elected to lead the country

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 Bush has “lost” Latin

America” Increasing “Anti-

American” 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%