us involvement in latin america. why get involved protect economic interests stop the infiltration...
TRANSCRIPT
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%