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Latin America’s Hard Movement to Democracy. Section 21.4. Economic Problems. Reliance on one cash crop to earn money IMPORT SUBSTITUTION – manufacturing goods locally to replace imports AGRIBUSINESS – giant commercial farms owned by multinational corporations Uneven distribution of wealth
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Latin America’s Hard Movement to Democracy Section 21.4
Economic Problems • Reliance on one cash crop to earn money • IMPORT SUBSTITUTION – manufacturing goods locally to replace imports • AGRIBUSINESS – giant commercial farms owned by multinational corporations • Uneven distribution of wealth • Poverty!
Solutions • Catholic Church is still a huge force in Latin America • LIBERATION THEOLOGY - urged the church to become a force for reform • ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES (OAS) – group formed in 1948 to promote democracy, economic cooperation, and peace in the Americas • United States dominance
Dictators, Democracy, and Drugs…Oh My! • Chile • First Socialist President – Salvador Allende (voted into office) • Leader of the military junta - Augusto Pinochet • Was appointed army commander in chief by Allende 18 days before the coup he led • Goals of Pinochet • Exterminate leftism in Chile • Reassert free-market policies • Did result in lower inflation and an economic boom from 1976 to 1979 • Stepped down in 1998 and was made senator-for-life • OPERATION CONDOR – several South American military gov’t coordinated their efforts to systematically eliminate opponents in the 1970s and 1980s
More Dictators • Argentina • Used to be the most prosperous country in Latin America (pre-1930) • Juan Peron (1946-1955) • Support from the workers: increased economy, boosted wages, and backed labor unions • Also suppressed opposition • Ousted in 1955 by a military coup • Reelected in 1973 • 1976 – The Disappeared
The War on Drugs • 1980s - Illegal drug use grew in the United States • US tried to stop illegal drugs from being smuggled into the country from Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, and other South American countries • Pressed Latin American gov’t to destroy crops and combat drug cartels • Backfire • Critics said it was US’s fault • Led to the assassination of public officials • Militarization of the drug cartels
Latin America Today • All nations are democratic today but the problem of poverty is still rampant in most countries in South and Central America • http://mappinghistory.uoregon.edu/english/LA/LA01-01.html