Thursday: History of US Involvement in Latin America by Courtney Anderson

1. Brief History

cnkinderson — 2022-09-27 20:22:31 UTC

From the arrival of Columbus until 1898, Puerto Rico had been under Spanish rule. In 1897, Spain gave Puerto Rico more independence and autonomy but the Spanish-American War moved the colonial power in charge from Spain to the US.

Now, Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the US, which means it is not an independent country. Puerto Ricans have had US citizenship since 1917, but cannot vote for president and lack representation in Congress.

US Involvement

cnkinderson — 2022-09-27 20:22:31 UTC

During the Spanish-American War in 1898, the US took over Puerto Rico from Spanish rule. When the war ended, Spain gave up PR to the US. The US moved in with sugar companies and established a military government - enforcing assimilation through education and the court system by requiring them to all be in English.

In 1917, Puerto Ricans were given citizenship but had limited rights in US government. Then, roughly 20,000 Puerto Rican men were drafted for World War I.

Operation Bootstrap:
After World War II, the economy shifted from agrarian interests to capitalist interests and several US companies outsourced labor to Puerto Rico to cut costs. During this time, Operation Bootstrap had 3 goals.
1. Lift taxes for exports from Puerto Rico to US, benefitting US corporations.
2. Encourage English only education and US curriculum, which would ultimately encourage migration to mainland.
3. Emigrate 1/3 of Puerto Rico's population to US

This operation would also ultimately encourage forced sterilization of Puerto Rican women as there was fear that the island was becoming overpopulated.

Impact on Migration

cnkinderson — 2022-09-27 20:22:31 UTC

During World War II and shortly thereafter, a period defined by Operation Bootstrap, Puerto Ricans were encourage to migrate to the US in order to find more economic opportunities. Around 500,000 emigrated from Puerto Rico after World War II.

Today, more people of Puerto Rican descent live in the US (5.7 million) than on PR itself (3.5 million).

Collaborators:

cnkinderson — 2022-09-27 20:22:31 UTC

Courtney Anderson

Mexico (Cyrus, Joey, Liz)

2024-10-03 16:39:52 UTC

As Spain took the land of Mexico, The US helped the Mexicans to earn their freedom and fought fo them in exchange for their help with the economy.
The US wanted more land that the Mexicans had. Also they wanted people to work, and participate in war.
The US made legal Mexicans illegal.

Context of the Salvadoran Civil War

2024-10-03 16:41:32 UTC

El Salvador was & still is a largely agrarian country, bringing in most of its money through the export of coffee. That export brought in about 95 percent of the country's income but said income was restricted to only 2 percent of the population. This was due to the vast majority of farmable land being owned by a few elites. This created an extreme power imbalance factoring into the creation of many leftist guerrilla organizations, which largely unified into the FMLN.

Nicaragua

2024-10-03 16:44:13 UTC

The USA government saw an opportunity in this country to gain power on their behalf to use especially the young people to fight for them in war and manipulate them with promises with a better future and opportunities, as well the us involvement was really unpopular and the us had to fight the war covertly.

US Involvement

2024-10-03 16:44:17 UTC

Father Roy Borgeois, a founder of the school of the Americas Watch, said it as more terrifying than Vietnam. Large parties from the military had gone down into the streets of El Salvador to slaughter innocent people or anyone who went against the US foreign policy about the land reform.

The way these military people are trying to figure out who these people are “working for”, which they were not working for anyone, just didn't like the US foreign policy, were by killing them. There had been thousands of bodies tossed on the side of the road from people who were thought to be going against the policy.

Vice President George H.W. Bush talked about this matter in his time from 1980-1988, where he said “we are not killing the priests”. After a large funeral was held for a priest who was assinated from a soldier. The Salvadoran military were killing these women, but these men who were killing were being taught by The School Of the Americas.

1. Brief History (Parker, Joshua, Ty, Hawk)

2024-10-03 16:45:30 UTC

In the 1950's, Guatemala was controlled by President Jacobo Arbenz. Arbenz was attempting to redistribute farming land to the poorer Guatemalans that had nothing. During this period, 2% of landowners owned 75% of all available land.

3. Impact on Migration

2024-10-03 16:45:42 UTC

The Salvadoran Civil War had a detrimental impact on migration in many ways. Salvadorians were fleeing from their country to the US due to widespread violence & lack of opportunity. This migration continued after the war due to economic & social issues, gang violence & already established networks of Salvadorians living in the US.

2. US involvement

2024-10-03 16:48:45 UTC

In 1898 America helped Cuba break free from Spanish control only for them to intervine militarily in Cuban affairs to protect their business interests.

in 1902 the US releases military occupation and establishes Cubas government.

In 1933 US backs a military coup led by Batista who will later take control of Cuba and become its dictator for decades. However, American business flourishes during this time in Cuba, where it has become a playground for illegal businesses.

In 1959 Batistas dictatorship ends and Fidel Castro takes control over Cuba.

In 1960 the US cuts diplomatic ties with Cuba as they try to take down Castro. During this time many Cubans have started to flee into the US where they are greeted and welcomed, especially in Miami. Only for in later years be discriminated against and unwanted.

brief history

2024-10-03 16:49:04 UTC

the dominican Republic, first named santo domigo, was ruled by the spanish and french until they declared their independence in 1821. however they didn't keep independence that long until the haiti took over and ran it until 1844. the domincan republic was then occupied by the U.S. military in 1906 and began an invasion of domincans that started the dominican civil war in 1965. since the civil war and U.S. involvement they have been suffering the consequences of the bloody invasion and the hope for democracy. since then they have started to live with regular elections and get rid of the dictatoership they had at the end of the civil war.

Collaborators

2024-10-03 16:51:07 UTC

Asudee, Isaali, Víctor

3. impact on Migration (Ian)

2024-10-03 16:52:13 UTC

Military coups sent by the U.S. a couple months into the newly elected leader, Juan Bosch was removed from office. This lead to the invasion by the U.S. in 1965. After rebel forces surrendered and the U.S. scheduled new elections which allowed the previous dictator’s right hand man, Joaquin Balaguer to run and later win those elections. Many Bosch supporters were getting killed on a daily basis. The United States started allowing rebels the come to the U.S. as a safety valve, thousands of Dominicans migrated to America. This has impacted migration nowadays by increasing the amount of illegal immigration grouping most immigrants to be diseased or dangerous to our way of life.

Collaborators

2024-10-03 16:52:30 UTC

History- Sahara

US Involvement- Ray

Migration- Isai

U.S. Involvement

2024-10-03 16:52:57 UTC

Influenced by Cold War anti-Communist sentiment, and in the interests of the United Fruit Company at the time, the U.S. perceived Arbenz's efforts as a spreading of communism in Latin America. Declassified documents from the CIA show their involvement in training Guatemalan death squads responsible for the covert kidnapping and assassination of anyone aligned with Arbenz. Hundreds of mass grave sites of the victims of these squads have been unearthed.

2024-10-03 16:54:28 UTC

How did this impact migration, both historic and current?
When the Cuba’s migrated to the united states they were welcomed with open arms until the unites states realized the cuban population was still increasing. They started passing laws 1980 requiring english only in all government agencies. In response to these laws cuban activist started getting involved in politics. In 1985 Florida seen a larger number of people registering to vote, this causing the cuban mayor to be elected. The united states had over 2 million cubans 70% living in Miami Florida and the numbers kept growing.

U.S. Involvement (Nathan)

2024-10-03 16:58:37 UTC

In 1916 the U.S. trained a new national guard Rafael Trujillo who led the guard and used the power to dictate and take control of the government. In 1930 the United States then scheduled new elections due to the rebels and violence which allowed Trujillo to run in the elections. Rafael was then elected and ruled for 30 years of absolute control. During Trujillo's dictatorship he protected U.S. sugar production by arresting and torturing Dominican labor workers and organizers making him one of the richest men in the world at the time of his assassination in 1961. In 1963 Juan Bosch was elected as the president of the Dominican Republic which didn't last very long and led the United States to invade in 1965.

Impact on Migration

2024-10-03 17:02:32 UTC

During the chaos of the civil war during 1960-1966, many Guatemalans emigrated from their homes looking for more safety and security. Despite being one of the main catalysts for the violence in Guatemala, U.S. immigration services were slow to issue refugee status, deeming Guatemalan emigrates as 'economic migrants' rather than recognizing their political motivations.

Extra Info.

2024-10-03 17:11:19 UTC

Congress absorbs majority of territory the west begins depending on Mexicans and Ricans for labor.

During the Great Depression competion starts for labor during this time 1mil. Mexicans 60% of them being legal were deported.

Over the last 100 years immagriants were being shipped in and out depending on made for labor .

during the world war they were called lifesavers during WWII Bracero program began thousands served in these wars much of the civil rights came after the wars

Until the end of WWII Latino children attended segregated "Mexican schools"

33mil. live here now.