HIST 8B FINAL CONCEPTS

Cuban Literacy Program (1961)

A tool of populist revolution in Cuba.

Dependency Theory

Main reason Latin America did not industrialize like Europe/US did; their industry was dependent on the global north.

Countries can lean into this economic strategy with free trade policies, accepting as foreign investment in one-two products

Modernly spearheaded by Ecuador, Honduras, and the Dominican Republic.

Import Substitution Industrialization (ISI)

Replace imports with domestic production to reduce foreign dependency.

Countries can lean into this economic strategy by massively increasing tariffs to prevent exports from entering the country and shield your economy from cheap products, keep the value of said country’s currency high, and take the opportunity to develop said country’s economy.

Modernly spearheaded by Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, and Colombia.

Modern Populism in Mexico

Characterized by the collaboration of students with unions. They were united by their opposition to the Institutional Revolutionary Party’s (PRI) growing control at a time of rapid expansion and economic growth.

Tlatelolco Massacre (1968) in Mexico

An example of political violence and mass death.

It was a peaceful demonstration at the Plaza de las Tres Culturas to protest the upcoming olympics, criticizing the country’s authoritarianism and massive expenditures on the games rather than on social programs, basic infrastructure, or reducing poverty.

It was comprised of politically diverse activists united in opposition to the PRI.

The military turned it into a false flag operation, with 44 documented deaths, and an estimated 300-400 undocumented deaths.

Operation Condor (1975 - 1983)

An example of political violence and Latin America & the world.

It was a strategic, ring-winged campaign between Chile, Paraguay, Bolivia, Brazil, and later Argentina to eliminate leftest threat and Marxist influence. They considered themselves protectors of Western civilization.

This campaign utilized sharing intelligence on oppositional forces, extradition of criminals to another jurisdiction where the crime occurred, engagement in targeted assassinations in and outside of Latin America.

This campaign stopped when an opponent was killed in Washington, DC.

Revolutionary Economy

A planned economy wherein the government has a plan for how much of XYZ items will be consumed over a certain amount of time. It is meant to change the existing structure of a country’s society and replace existing modes of production.

Countries can lean into this economic strategy by limiting the size of private estates or convert them to small holdings, reducing rent and/or utility rates, and establishing community groups.

Modernly spearheaded by Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua.

Chilean Labor Movement (1973)

An example of political violence.

Citizens utilized kidnappings of political leaders, shoot outs, robbing banks. However, they failed because they did not have enough organization to start a Civil War, and were defeated by the Pinochet dictatorship’s coup.

Cordobazo (1969) in Argentina

An example of political violence, authoritarianism, and mass death.

Citizens organized against the military dictatorship of General Juan Carlos Onganía. They utilized worker strikes and student protests. They were met with severe repression by the police and military, with at least 14 confirmed deaths.

The Institutional Revolutionary Party

An example of authoritarianism.

They were the authoritarian ruling party of Mexico who opposed the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). Underneath this government, citizens could not publicly speak out against them, as it was considered disturbing natural order.

Mexico’s example of Changes and Continuities in Everyday Life

They radically transformed their urban space, creating the Palacio de los Deportes, a sports palace, and their municipal subway system.

Bracero Program (1942 - 1964)

An example of the US and Latin America.

The two governments would cooperate on a program that would allow Mexican men to work in the US as contract farmworkers to replace young Americans mobilizing to fight in WW2 and satisfy the demands of farm workers in California and Texas who wanted access to a labor force that could be used to undercut farmworker’s unions. 4.6 Million contracts were granted.

The farmworkers engaged in transnational labor activism, refashioned their identities, confronted anti-Mexican discrimination, earned money to invest in their communities, and established a transnational web of networks that their family used to facilitate later migratory journeys.

Use a national, regional, and local lens to analyze; introduce agrarian conflicts and selection process.

Response to Cuba’s Revolutionary Economy (early 1960s)

An example of the US and Latin America.

The US responded to their call for “No U.S. Influence” and thus, the nationalization of their oil.

The US responded with a trade embargo on purchases of said country’s sugar, essentially killing their economy. The embargo was later expanded into a nearly total ban on all trade with said country.

Bay of Pigs Invasion (1961)

An example of the US and Latin America.

It’s primary purpose was to overthrow Fidel Castro, occurring prior to the trade embargo. This event failed because Cuba was already preparing for it, utilizing a civilian militia. It was unsuccessful in favor of Cuba.

Occupation of Haiti (1915-1934)

An example of the US and Latin America.

This occurred because of their debt to France and European banks.

Operation PBSUCCESS (1954)

An example of the US and Latin America.

It’s primary purpose was to overthrow the democratically elected President Árbenz of Guatamala and instill a U.S.-backed regime. It was successful in favor of the US.

Operation Power Pack (1965)

An example of the US and Latin America.

It’s primary purpose was to be a military intervention in the Dominican Republic in the name of defeating communism. It was known as an attempt to “prevent another Cuba.” It was successful in favor of the US.

Operation Just Cause (1989)

An example of the US and Latin America.

It’s primary purpose was to overthrow the General Manuel Noriega of Panama and instill a “democratic government.” It was successful in favor of the US.

Operation Absolute Resolve (2026)

An example of the US and Latin America.

It’s primary purpose was to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, charging him with narcoterrorism. It was successful in favor of the US.

Maoist Ideas

An example of Latin America and the world.

It played a key role in mobilization and fragmentation of the left in Latin America as it provided an alternative to Marxism

Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)

An example of Latin American & the world

An agreement between Cuba and the Soviets to store intercontinental ballistic missiles in Cuba in response to the US storing missiles in Turkey

Cocaine

An example of Latin American & the world

Vatican II (1962 - 1965)

An example of Faith in Modern Latin America

Started a theological discussion about the relationship between spiritual belief and material conditions, shifting Latin America towards liberation theology. It allowed alliances between Catholics and peasant movements.