History of Latin America Final

Batllismo

A philosophy in Uruguay emphasizing nationalism and social, political, and economic development.

UCR Party

The Radical Civic Union, a political party in Argentina that marked a turning point in Argentinian politics with Yrigoyen's election in 1916.

Juan and Eva Perón's political strategy

Building political power through intervention in trade, protection of domestic industries, nationalization, and coalition politics.

Neocolonialism

The use of various pressures to control or influence countries, particularly former dependencies.

UFCO

The United Fruit Company, an American multinational corporation that dominated tropical fruit production and influenced U.S. foreign policy in Latin America.

Banana Republic

A politically unstable country whose economy is dependent on a single product and often controlled by foreign corporations.

CIA intervention in Guatemala (1954)

The CIA organized a coup to oust President Jacobo Árbenz after he attempted land reforms affecting UFCO.

Agrarian Reform Law (1959)

A law passed by the Cuban government to expropriate large landholdings, including those owned by U.S. sugar companies.

Dirty War

A period of state terrorism in Argentina where the military junta conducted human rights abuses to eliminate political dissidents.

Madres de la Plaza de Mayo

A group of Argentine mothers protesting in Buenos Aires to demand information about their disappeared children during the Dirty War.

Sierra Maestra

The mountain range in Cuba where Fidel Castro and Che Guevara organized and launched guerrilla warfare during the Cuban Revolution.

Pinochet's dictatorship

A brutal regime in Chile from 1973 to 1990, established after the military coup that ousted Salvador Allende.

Liberation Theology

A Christian movement advocating for the poor and addressing systemic injustices through faith and political action.

FMLN

Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front, a coalition of leftist guerrilla groups fighting against the U.S.-backed Salvadoran government.

Chicago Boys

A group of Chilean economists who advocated for neoliberal economic reforms under Pinochet's regime.

Tumparo Movement

A leftist urban guerrilla organization in Uruguay, known for its idealism and public relations as well as its armed actions.

The Great Depression

The severe worldwide economic crisis that took place during the 1930s, significantly impacting Latin America, including Cuba.

World System Theory

An approach suggesting there is a world economic system where some countries benefit while others are exploited.

Motorcycle Diaries

A memoir by Che Guevara detailing his travels across South America, highlighting social injustices and the plight of the poor.

Che Guevara's observations on communism

He viewed the couple's longing for 'bread for the poor' as a natural response to persistent hunger and oppression.

National Security Doctrine

A U.S. Cold War strategy justifying authoritarian rule and suppression of dissent under the guise of maintaining internal security.

Victor Jara

A Chilean folk singer and activist, symbolizing resistance and human rights, who was executed after Pinochet's coup.

FSLN

The Sandinista National Liberation Front, a leftist political party in Nicaragua that led the revolution against the Somoza dictatorship.

Archbishop Romero's siding with the poor

El Salvador's Archbishop Óscar Romero publicly supported the poor and increased social justice activism, influenced by Liberation Theology.

Somoza family

A political family that ruled Nicaragua with authoritarian control from 1936 until their overthrow by the Sandinistas in 1979.

Daniel Ortega and junta rule

Daniel Ortega emerged as a leader of the Sandinista movement and later became president, overseeing a junta during the Nicaraguan Revolution.

Cold War context

The global ideological struggle between capitalism and communism that influenced U.S. intervention in Latin America from the 1950s through the 1980s.

Reagan’s contra war

U.S. support for Contra rebels in Nicaragua during the 1980s, aimed at overthrowing the Sandinista government.

Los catorce in El Salvador

A political crisis in El Salvador where fourteen key figures, including military and political leaders, faced charges related to human rights abuses.

Roots of the leftist guerrilla movements in latifundia

Leftist guerrilla movements in Latin America often originated in response to socio-economic inequalities and the concentration of land ownership in latifundia.

U.S. presence in the 1920s-30s

During this period, the U.S. influenced Latin America through intervention, military presence, and support for dictators, often to protect American business interests.

Augusto Cesar Sandino

A Nicaraguan revolutionary leader who led a rebellion against U.S. occupation from 1927 to 1933, inspiring future liberation movements.

Allende’s key aim

Salvador Allende aimed to implement socialism through democratic means in Chile, focusing on nationalization and land reform.

Allende electoral victory (by plurality, not majority)

Salvador Allende was elected president of Chile in 1970 by winning a plurality of votes, without achieving an outright majority.

Falklands (Malvinas) War

A conflict between Argentina and the United Kingdom in 1982 over the disputed Falkland Islands, impacting Argentina's military regime.

Videla

Jorge Rafael Videla was an Argentine general who led a military junta during the Dirty War, characterized by widespread human rights violations.

Significance of UCR party and Yrigoyen's election (1916)

The UCR party's emergence marked a shift toward more democratic governance and the inclusion of the middle class in politics, breaking the traditional dominance of elites in Argentina.

Caudillo rulers: Cabrera & Ubico

Cabrera and Ubico were authoritarian leaders in Latin America known for their military control and suppression of opposition, highlighting the caudillo political model.

Dulles Brothers

John Foster Dulles and Allen Dulles were U.S. statesmen involved in Cold War foreign policy, playing significant roles in shaping U.S. interventions in Latin America.

Platt Amendment provisions

The Platt Amendment included provisions allowing U.S. intervention in Cuban affairs and the establishment of naval bases, limiting Cuba's sovereignty.

Moncada Barracks Attack (1953)

This failed raid led by Fidel Castro against the Moncada Barracks was pivotal, as it galvanized opposition to Batista and inspired the Cuban Revolution.

'History will absolve me'

Fidel Castro's speech during his trial for the Moncada attack outlined his political ideology and commitment to overthrowing Batista, becoming a rallying cry for revolution.

Key steps in U.S.-Cuba alienation (after Castro's rise)

Key events included nationalization of U.S. businesses, the severing of diplomatic ties, and the alignment with the Soviet Union.

Bay of Pigs Invasion

A failed U.S.-backed operation in 1961 to overthrow Fidel Castro, leading to increased tensions and Cuban alignment with the Soviet Union.

Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)

A 13-day confrontation between the U.S. and the Soviet Union over Soviet missiles in Cuba, marking a peak in Cold War tensions.

Economic nationalism

An economic policy advocating for domestic industry and resistance to foreign influence, significant in Latin American countries during the 20th century.

Import Substitution Industrialization (ISI)

An economic strategy aimed at reducing dependency on foreign imports by promoting local industries, widely implemented in Latin America.

Raúl Prebisch & ECLA's analysis

Raúl Prebisch, through the Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLA), argued that Latin America was trapped in dependency, needing structural economic change.

World System Theory (in context of Latin America)

A theory that posits the global economic system is hierarchical, with wealthy countries exploiting poorer nations, impacting international relations.