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Peronism at the Rise (Argentina)
Juan Peron rose to power following the military. To overcome his competitors he became a populist. Bringing a minimum wage, an eight hour work day, and paid vacations Peron was a public favorite. However, Peron focued on boosting industrialization (which failed) but did put farming under governmnet control, which overall hurt the economy. -
Arbenz Attacks (Guatemala)
Jacobo Arbenz used land reform to take control oer large plots of land and distribute them to peasants. This harmed the United Fruit Company which owned land in Guatemala. This along with the beliefs that Arbenz was a leftist or radical persuaded the United States to intervene. The CIA intervened in a coup that led to the downfall of Arbenz along with years of repressive dicators that were fought against by guerrilla forces and civil war. -
Castro in Cuba (Cuba)
Fidel Castro lead an attack (which was unsuccessful) against Fulgencio Batista who had seized power the previous year. Although this attack was unsuccessful, the next time Castro would revolt it would turn into a full scale revolution. -
Death of a Dictator (Brazil)
With teh death of the dictator, Juscelino came to power in a free election promising "fifty years of progress in five." The results of foreign investment that had flowed into Brazil at the time went to the capital city of Brasilia. Costing almost 2 Billion, this effort in modernization bankrupted the economy. This lead to military leaders sezing control. -
Downfall of Peron (Argentina)
The downfall of Peron was followed by decades of economic and political struggle. Military dictatorships flourished which eventually to a dirty time in Argentinian history: "The Dirty Wars" -
Duvalier into Power (Hati)
Francois Duvalier had been elected in 1957 and the Duvaliers headed a dictatorship for 28 years. Their corruption worsened the economy of Hati even more than it already was. From then on the economy never entirely recovered. Even after the Duvaliers were forced out by riots and military leaders attempted to lead. -
Military Makes a Move (Brazil)
Military leaders seize control, creating the "Brazilian Miracle" of 1968 to 1973. Exports, farming, and mining grew, and it was within this time Brazil's economy grew more than any other country's had. -
Brazilian Miracle Begins (Brazil)
To achieve the rapid growth that Brazil was beginning to achieve, the military had to freeze wages and as a result living standards declined. People were also in danger og becoming a victim of the many death squads if they complained about the cirumstances. However, as opposition against the government grew the economy began to spiral once again. -
Spiraling Economy (Brazil)
Oil prices began to rise which caused Brazil's economy to become in debt and was also a victim to hyperinflation. Within the next 20 years the inflation rate was above 2500%. -
Election of a Leftist (Chile)
Salvador Allende was elected to be president in 1970. His opening acts of spending large sums of money on housing, education, and health care were loved by many, but Allende soon experienced trouble. The military eventually rose up against him resulting in his death along with 3000 others. -
Brazilian Miracle Ends (Brazil)
This marks the decent of Brazil's Economy. -
Bombing of Presidential Palace (Chile)
This date marks the death of Chile's president at the time, Salvador Allende. -
Pinochet for President (Chile)
Before the attack on Allende, Augusto Pinochet had been appointed commander in cheif of the army. He had been heavily involved in the attack upon Allende and later claimed his presidency in 1974. Once in this position he quickly moved to take out any opposing forces. As multiple other countries had, Chile used violence to keep order. -
The Dirty War Begins (Argentina)
During the reign of many military dictatorships, a series of events became known as the "dirty war. " During this time the government was carrying out violent acts against suspected enemies. Soldiers would seize people during the night and take them to detention centers where they were usually tortured and most killed. An estimated 10000-30000 people vanished during this time. Victims largely consisted of critics of the government or supposed critics. -
Somoza and the Sandinistas (Nicaragua)
Nicaragua had been ruled for the past four decades by the Somoza family. Their anti-communist view kept them in favor with the United States, but their violence and corruption angerd many locals. In 1979 the anit-Somoza movements were gaining strength and the family was forced to flee. A group known as the Sandinistas came into power and ruled as a Junta. -
Panama sees Dictatorship (Panama)
Manuel Noriega gained control of Panama and abused the country by using it as a base for drug smuggling. This directly affected the Panama Canal which tehrefore affected many of the world's trade interests. -
Civil War in El Salvador (El Salvador)
With military dictatorships keeping power through unfair means, civil war was imminent. The government assasssins who gunned down a government critic were just the beginning. It was this murder that sparked the true civil war. -
The Dirty War is Cleaned Up (Argentina)
This year marked the end of what became known as the "dirty war." -
Protest Duvalier (Hati)
Protests against Duvalier forced him from power which allowed Jean-Bertran Aristide to come into power. This was in favor of the public but was ended when a military group forced thmselves into his place. -
United States to the Rescue (Panama)
Salvation was brought to Panam upon the arrest of Noriega who had abuss th Panama Canal and the entire country with drug trafficking. -
Inflation (Brazil)
Inflation rate in Brazil was above 2500%. -
Peru is Poor (Peru)
Peur had been getting terrorized by a terrosist organization known as Shining Path and it was in these terrile conditions that Alberto Fujimori won the election into power. Although Fujimore attempted to fix up the economy he was accused of abusing and power and removed from office. -
NAFTA Signed (Mexico)
Mexico, the United States, and Canada came together and signed the free-trade agreement known as NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) This eliminated any problem with trading between the three countries. -
Aristide Returns to Power (Hati)
Jean-Bertrand Aristide returned to his former position but by this time there was little he could do to fix the many problems that now existed. -
Democrats Elected (Panama)
With the arrest of previous dictators, Panama now had room for democracy. -
Peasant Uprising (Mexico)
Close to when NAFTA had been signed, a peasant uprising broke out which added to the low confidence Mexico had already been experiencing after their currency had been devalued. -
Election Day (Peru)
Alberto Fujimori had become a dictator in the past years but when elections were held in 1995, he won due to the fact that the economy had been booming and significant progress was being made. This resulted in his being elected once again. -
Congress Reforms (Mexico)
Oppostional parties to Mexico's current Institutional Revolutionary Party won a number of seats in congress which would bring big change to Mexico. -
Transfer of Canal (Panama)
Transfer of the Panama Canal smoothed, drug trafficking and previous problems were being sorted out. -
Voters Elect President (Mexico)
This year marked the official end of a previous 71 year reign of PRI (Institutional REvolutionary Party) rulers. Vincente Fox had been elected as a member o fthe PAN party. Taking on the role of having to fix up the economy after the previous, Fox was successful yet Mexico's relationship with the United States was tense. -
Scandal and Fraud Force Retirement (Peru)
Alberto Fujimori was forced to retire in the year 2000 even after winning the presidential election just five years earlier in 1995.
