How did the cold war affect Latin America? Why did the United States get involved?

Since the worlds two superpowers, the United States and USSR, wanted other countries to pick a side.
They wanted them to choose whether they wanted to be communist or not, and depending what side
you chose you would have either USSR supporting you or the US backing you up. Since the leaders of
Latin America were mostly dictators and they opposed communism they were helped by the US to keep
their power.
What is the difference between left and right wing? And why is it confusing?
Left wingers are people who are liberal or believe that the government should support the people. Right
wingers are people that are conservative and think that the government should have less of a role in the
lives of the people. It is confusing because neither can be better than the other. There are pros and cons
for both governments.
Why did the US get involved with Cuba?
Since US and Cuba traded sugar heavily and since the people saw none of the profit the government was
overthrown by Batista, but Batista was overthrown by Castro shortly after. Castro was a communist and
since the US hates communists they stopped trading and considered Cuba as an enemy.
Whats a banana republic?
Its a country with a weak government that is controlled by a company for the purpose of exporting a
good to make a profit.
How did the CIA get involved in Guatemala?
Dictators controlled Guatemala until the 1950s. One of the dictators, Jacabo Arbenz Guzman, enacted
land reforms that were communist-like. The CIA stepped in and overthrew him and put a military junta
in power, which then caused a lot of violence.
What is the other infamous September 11th?
When a socialist leader took control of Chile the US helped Augusto Pinochet overthrow him and instate
himself as leader in a coup that took place on September 11th, 1973. Pinochet severely violated human
rights and tortured and killed thousands. When he gave up power he was charged for his atrocities, but
he died before he had to pay for them.
Who were the disappeared in Argentina?
When the military general, Juan Peron, took power he used his special police to take people from their
homes and off the street and kill them. The people they killed were called the disappeared.
Why was it controversial when the United States intervened in Nicaragua?

When a communist supporting group called the Sandinistas revolted against the government an anticommunist group called the contras fought them for power. The Sandinistas were being supplied by the
USSR and Cuba and the Contras were being supplied by the US. President Reagan said that they couldnt
afford to supply them anymore, but he lied and the US kept supplying them by sending weapons to Iran
then Iran sent the weapons to the Contras.
What violence occurred in Brazil and El Salvador?
After the great depression a Leader called Getulio Vargas took control and slowly turned the Country
into a fascist state. He ruled until he was overthrown in 1945. There was a civil war in El Salvador
between left and right wing fighters. The right wing fighters were supported by the US, and years later
the war ended with 75,000 dead.
If democracy is a goal of the L.A. Nations, what does a nation have to have in order to achieve this
goal?
The people of Latin America always lived under a dictator or a king; they suffered oppression, poverty,
and genocide because of this. Their rights were kept from them and the middle class is almost nonexistent in Latin America. I think for a democracy to work a country needs 3 things: equal rights ensured
to all people, a stable economy, and a constitution. They need equal rights to make sure no person has
greater power than another. A stable economy so they wont need to rely on a wealthy person for
things. Finally they need a strong constitution to ensure rights to their people.