Activity IndexModern Problems in Latin AmericaThe Legacy of ColonialismThe Cold War Comes Calling

Vocabulary IndexCentral Intelligence Agency (CIA)Conference of BerlinCoup detatDirty WarEnlightenment (The)GlobalizationLand ReformJuntaNAFTANationalizationStandard of LivingTreaty of TordesillasThird World (The)Truman Doctrine (The)

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The Cold War comes callingInstructions:#1 Open up the corresponding worksheet by clicking here#2 Using the vocabulary index, look up the meaning of the words CIA, Land Reform, Nationalization, Dirty War, Junta, Truman Doctrine, standard of living, and Coup detat.#3 Select three of the nations below (by clicking on the flags of your choices) and explore Americas involvement with this nation during the Cold War by reading the slides and answering the questions on the accompanying worksheet.#4 After youve researched 3 nations hit the escape key (esc) to exit.

Modern Problems of Africa and Latin AmericaAfrica

PovertyEnvironmentalCorrupt GovernmentsEthnic ConflictLegacy of Colonialism Cold War CompetitionLatin America

PovertyEnvironmentalFragile DemocracyRacismLegacy of ColonialismCold War Competition

The World

Modern Problems of Latin AmericaLatin AmericaPovertyEnvironmentalFragile DemocracyRacismLegacy of ColonialismCold War Competition

Legacy of ColonialismInstructions:#1 Using the vocabulary index, look up the meaning of the words Third World, Enlightenment, Globalization, Treaty of Tordesillas, Conference of Berlin and NAFTA.#2 Go through the corresponding slides until reaching the stop sign answering the questions and filling in the answers on your worksheet when prompted. Click Here to Advance

Legacy of ColonialismMainly colonized by the Spanish and Portuguese looking for gold and silver beginning in 1492. The territory was divided by the Pope at the 1494 Treaty of Tordesillas.Colonization mainly began after the 1884 Conference of Berlin where the European powers divided the lands of Africa up amongst themselves with Britain, France and Germany gaining the largest shares in hopes of exploiting Africas large supplies of gold and diamonds. What is similar about the colonization of both Latin America and Africa?Click Here to Advance

Issues facing Africa and Latin AmericaIn both cases the areas were divided by Europeans with littleregard to local issues.Click Here to AdvanceWhat is similar about the colonization of both Latin America and Africa?

Legacy of ColonialismDespite making up only a fraction of the population, the European minority was able to control the African populationThe Europeans established quotas for delivery of raw materials for African workers to deliver.A social class system was established that favored Europeans and members of tribes most loyal to the colonial government.

How did the Europeans maintain control over the native populations of Africa and Latin America?Under the Spanish and the Portuguese an estimated 96% of the original population died through contact with the Europeans (disease and warfare)The Europeans began importing slaves from Africa to do hard labor on the sugar plantations of Latin AmericaA rigid social class system developed where people were rights were given and denied based upon ethnicity and national origin.Click Here to Advance

Issues facing Africa and Latin AmericaSuperior technologyBoth Africa and Latin America suffered under social structures imposed by the Europeans that resulted in ethnic conflict and racism. Click Here to AdvanceHow did the Europeans maintain control over the native populations of Africa and Latin America?

Legacy of ColonialismAfrican nations mainly gained their independence after World War II while the European powers were recovering from years of bloodshed and expenses.Africa gained its freedom under the revolutionary leadership of men like Kwame Nkrumah and Patrice Lamumba educated in Europe about the ideas of the Enlightenment.

What are two commonalities between the ways in which Africa and Latin America received their independence?Latin American nations mainly gained their independence after the Napoleonic Wars while the European powers were recovering from years of bloodshed and expenses. Latin America gained its freedom under the revolutionary leadership of men like Simon Bolivar, educated in Europe about the ideals of the Enlightenment.Click Here to Advance

Issues facing Africa and Latin AmericaIn both cases the European powers were distracted by events closer to homeIn both cases independence movements were led by individuals familiar with the ideals of the Enlightenment.Click Here to AdvanceWhat are two commonalities between the ways in which Africa and Latin America received their independence?

Legacy of ColonialismAfter de-colonization local strongmen backed by the CIA or the Soviet KGB took control of the newly independent African nations and generally denied the people democracy in favor of the stability of dictatorship. The ruling class grew wealthy while the rest of the continent sank into deep poverty.The natural resources of Africa were strip mined and sold off to European and American companies providing money to the ruling classes, but not to the people of Africa.

How was the post independence experience similar in Africa and Latin America?After de-colonization local strongmen took control and despite the promises of democracy, dictatorship continued to rule in Latin America as the upper classes grew wealthy and the lower classes fell deeper and deeper into poverty.The natural resources of Latin America (sugar, tropical fruit, coffee) were bought up by American companies providing money to the ruling class but not to the people of Latin America. Click Here to Advance

Issues facing Africa and Latin AmericaIn both Africa and Latin America strongmen were able to take control of the new nations and deny the people democracy and natural rights.Those same dictators were also selling off their nations natural resources to foreigners for personal gain. Click Here to AdvanceHow was the post independence experience similar in Africa and Latin America?

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Effects of colonization on Africa and Latin AmericaEthnic Conflict and Racism (local and worldwide)Corrupt governments and a mistrust of democracy.Exploitation of resources and people (leads to widespread poverty and destruction of the environment. Click Here to Advance

Modern Problems of Latin AmericaLatin AmericaPovertyEnvironmentalFragile DemocracyRacismLegacy of ColonialismCold War Competition

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The EnlightenmentTook place in Europe between the sixteen and seventeen hundreds.Philosophers like John Locke, J.J. Rousseau and Voltaire questioned the relationship between man and the state in search for natural rights.Back to VocabularyAhead to activity Index

Standard of LivingStandard of living refers to the quality and quantity of goods that are available in a society.The U.S. and other developed nations enjoy a high standard of living while nations in Africa, Latin America and other places in the third world suffer from a relatively low standard of living.Back to VocabularyAhead to activity Index

The Third WorldExpression used to describe the developing world after World War II.Third World countries are usually former colonies and in need of assistance and aid to develop their natural resources.Back to VocabularyAhead to activity Index

GlobalizationGlobalization refers to increasing global connectivity, integration and interdependence in economics, technology, culture, politics, and the environment. An example would be the flow of goods. People in America drive cars built in Japan using a fuel found in Saudi Arabia transported to America on a ship built in Finland.Ahead to activity IndexBack to Vocabulary

Conference of BerlinA meeting held in Berlin in the 1880s hosted by Otto Von Bismark.At the conference the European imperialist powers divided Africa amongst themselves.Africa was divided based upon European needs and not according to tribal boundaries in Africa. Sometimes referred to as the Scramble for AfricaBack to VocabularyAhead to activity Index

Treaty of TordesillasAn agreement negotiated by the Pope in the late 1400s that divided the world between Portugal and Spain.By this agreement Spain received most of the new world (with the exception of Brazil) and Portugal received the majority of Africa.Ahead to activity IndexBack to Vocabulary

NationalizationEconomic policy where a nation takes control of industries owned by foreign companies. (ex. Iran takes control over oil fields owned by Exxon) Nationalization favors poor nations rich in resources being exploited by foreign companies.Back to VocabularyAhead to activity Index

Central Intelligence AgencyBranch of the U.S. government responsible for identifying threats to the U.S. often through espionage and covert (undercover or secret) actions.During the Cold War one of the CIAs main missions was to stop the spread of communism into the third world.Back to VocabularyAhead to activity Index

The Truman DoctrineU.S. Cold War policy to offer military aid to any and all who opposed communist expansionPart of the containment strategy.Back to VocabularyAhead to activity Index

Dirty WarThe secret murder and torture of left wing opposition to the military led Argentine government between the years 1976 and 1983.The Dirty war came to an end after Argentinas military Junta fell from power after it lost the brief Falkland Islands war with Britain in 1982 The faces of only a handful of those who vanished during Argentinas dirty war.Back to VocabularyAhead to activity Index

Coup detatSometimes referred to simply as a coup this is the sudden replacement of a nations government through unconstitutional means. Similar to a revolution, however in a coup the violence and bloodshed is often limited.Napoleons seizure of power in revolutionary France is an example of a coup.Back to VocabularyAhead to activity Index

JuntaThe Spanish word for committee it has taken on an English meaning for a group of military men who seize power in a nation.Junta usually refers to Latin American nations, however the term can be used to describe other unelected military governments. Back to VocabularyAhead to activity Index

Land ReformEconomic policy of land redistribution where the government takes land from the rich and gives it to the poor.Popular among revolutionaries (Lenin, Castro and Robespierre) and nationalists like Arbenz and Lamumba. Back to VocabularyAhead to activity Index

NAFTAThe North American Free Trade AgreementA deal between Mexico, the United States and Canada not to use tariffs (taxes on imports) in an effort to improve the economies of all three nations.NAFTA has been controversial as people in all three nations debate its effectiveness.

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ChileThe CIA feels that Allendes policies are too close to Communism and that if he remains in power he will lead Chile and its valuable metals away from the U.S. and into the arms of the Soviet Union.Chile is the long slender nation that stretches along South Americas southwest coast. Chile is rich in copper and other metal deposits. The copper is very important to the United States as it is being used to create telephone lines across America. Chiles natural resources are owned by American corporations proving great profits to Americans and upper class Chileans while the majority of Chileans live in abject poverty. In 1972 Chileans overwhelmingly elect the Socialist candidate Salvatore Allende who promises to improve the lives of Chiles people by redistributing the nations wealth from the rich to the poor and by demanding more from the American corporations for Chiles natural resources.Click here if you think the American President agreed with the CIA directorClick here if you think the American President disagreed with the CIA director.

Wise decision Mr. President!The Allende government will cause us nothing but trouble and he will raise the costs of phone service in America just to benefit some Chileans. The CIA can sponsor a revolution in Chile and overthrow Allende, replacing him with someone less communist and more to our liking.Click here to order the overthrow of AllendeClick here if youd like to try and work with Allende by forcing the American public and corporations to pay higher prices to help out the Chilean people.

The Rise of PinochetThe CIA selected Chilean general Augusto Pinochet as the next leader of Chile and funded and aided in his 1973 coup de tat. In the coup Allende was killed and took control of Chile. Pinochet banned the socialist parties that were part of Allende's government and all political parties other than his own. The government violently repressed (punished) all who opposed it. It is not known exactly how many people were killed by government and forces during the 17 years that he was in power however it is estimated that 2,279 people who disappeared during the military government were killed for political reasons, and at least 30,000 tortured according while several thousands more were exiled. Chile remained a U.S. ally in the Cold War, the cost of phone service in the U.S. remained low and the Chilean people now lived in poverty and terror.Thousands of Chileans were held and in secret camps like the one seen to the left.Click here to select another nation

GuatemalaClick here if you think the American President disagreed with the CIA director.Click here if you think the American President agreed with the CIA director

The CIA feels that Arbenzs policies aretoo close to communism and they will leadGuatemala out of the American camp andinto the arms of the Soviet Union. Jacobo Arbenz won over 60% of the vote in Guatemala's first ever free election. He campaigned as a nationalist and promised to make changes to help the average Guatemalan. Arbenz main policy was of land reform where the government would pay large land owners for the unplanted portions of their land and give it to poor peasants giving them the opportunity to begin building their own farms.

Wise decision Mr. President!The Arbenz government will cause us nothing but trouble and he will raise the costs of produce and sugar in America, just to benefit some Guatemalan farmers?. The CIA can sponsor a revolution in Guatemala and overthrow Arbenz, replacing him with someone less communist and more to our liking.Click here to order the overthrow of ArbenzClick here if youd like to try and work with Arbenz by forcing the American public and corporations to pay higher prices to help out the Guatemalan people.

Civil War in GuatemalaArbenz was overthrown in a CIA orchestrated (organized) coup and replaced with a pro U.S. military dictator who was later overthrown in a violent revolution which has led to a thirty plus year civil war in Guatemala. Thousands have been killed, wounded or disappeared and the United Fruit Company plantations have ceased to operate because of the seemingly unending violence.Chile remained a U.S. ally in the Cold War, the cost of phone service in the U.S. remained low and the Chilean people now lived in poverty and terror.Today Guatemalan children play in mounds of trash as they struggle to find life during the bloodshedClick here to select another nation

ArgentinaClick here if you think the American President disagreed with the CIA director.Click here if you think the American President agreed with the CIA directorThe CIA feels that Perons policies are too populist and will lead Argentina out of the American camp and into the arms of the Soviet Union. Despite Perons claims of concern for his people we could probably buy him off and install a government more to our liking.Argentina is South Americas second largest nation made up of the plains on the eastern side of the Andes mountains east of Chile and Southwest from Brazil. Argentina is one of the worlds largest producers of beef. While Argentinas resources may not be as exciting as some its neighbors its size and population make it a valuable Cold War ally. Like most of Latin America, Argentina has been ruled by a series of military dictatorships since colonial times. Recently the poverty stricken people have turned toward the socialist military leader Juan Peron electing him President.

Wise decision Mr. President!The Peron government will cause us nothing but trouble and he will raise the costs of beef in America just, to benefit some Argentinean workers? The CIA can offer support to some politically more reliable Argentinean Generals to replace him with someone less communist and more to our liking.Click here to support the overthrow of PeronClick here if youd like to try and work with Peron by forcing the American public and corporations to pay higher prices to help out the Argentine people.

Military Junta in ArgentinaIn 1954 Juan Peron was overthrown by a group of military leaders (much in the same way he originally gained power in 1943). Although there is no direct connection between the new Argentine government and the U.S., America was quite happy to see the left leaning Peron ousted from power. Argentina endured a series of military governments until 1973 when Peron was briefly returned to power in democratic elections. Peron died in office in 1974 resulting in another series of military Juntas ruling Argentina until 1983.Argentinas corrupt yet popular dictator Juan PeronBetween 1976 and 1983, Argentinas series of military Juntas led something known as the dirty war where thousands of Argentine leftists (Communists, socialists, unionists and Peron supporters) were killed, tortured or simply disappeared.Click here to select another nation

CubaThe slender island of Cuba, rich with sugarcane and Coffee plantations is located less the 90 miles south of Florida. For the past 50 years Cuba has been led by American supported dictators whove turned Cuba into a playground for visiting Americans and rich corporations who control much of Cubas economy while the Cubans themselves live largely in wretched poverty. Recently a rebel force led by Fidel Castro has overthrown the American backed dictator Fulgencio Batista. Castro has promised to nationalize the U.S. controlled industries and to provide better conditions and medical care for the Cuban people by offering services paid for by the government.Click here if you think the American President agreed with the CIA directorClick here if you think the American President disagreed with the CIA director.The CIA feels that Castros policies are too close to Communism and that if he remains in power he will lead Cuba and its valuable produce and strategic location away from the U.S. and into the arms of the Soviet Union.

Wise decision Mr. President!Castro will cause us nothing but trouble, so what if he wants to meet with you. Castro will cost American companies millions of dollars and he might even go over to the Soviets. The CIA can invade Cuba and overthrow Castro, just say the word.Click here to order the overthrow of CastroClick here if youd like to try and work with Castro by forcing the American public and corporations to pay higher prices to help out the Cuban people.

Bay of PigsDisasterOn the advice of the CIA, President Kennedy launched a secret invasion of Cuba in 1961, using an army made up of men exiled by Castro. Castros forces easily defeated the U.S. planned invasion and as a result, Cuba pledged its loyalty to the Soviet Union. Cuban leader Fidel CastroAfter the failed invasion, President Kennedy broke off relations with Cuba and imposed a full trade embargo with the island nation. Today the people of Cuba have full access to education and health care however their economy is in a shambles because of the fifty plus year American embargo against Cubas leader Fidel Castro.Click here to select another nation

Well never knowThe President decided to listen to his advisors from the CIA so well never know what may have happened if America had followed this path.Click on the flag below to continue researching the nation where you left off.

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