How did the Cold War affected Latin America?
550687
I would argue that the Cold War affected Latin America in about the same way it affected the entire 3rd world. Many lower class individuals were easy targets for communist propaganda and likewise any poltical manuevering they attempted was seen by Washington DC as communist revolution. Therefore America would naturally side or back whatever regime wished to supress any popular or socialist/communist power being sought. Any peasant or lower-class miltant movement undermining western/capitolist philosphy was dealt with under very cruel circumstances. There was for instance, and you may look this up on the internet, something called the Guatemallan college of the Americas (http://www.derechos.org/soa/guat-not.html), in which American inteligence officials were brought in to teach proper torture and assination techniques to our "allies" in Latin America in dealing with communist revolts and militant movements. If you consider Cuba part of Latin America then that opens up an entirely new can of worms following the Jan 31st 1959 takeover by Fidel Castro which eventually led to a Socialist government (technically not communist one because the revolution was not declared a communist one until afterwards). As soon as Castro sided with the Soviet Union, America naturally hated him and began a propaganda/embargo against him which has lasted well into the Bush regime. One must remember that the 3rd world (including Latin America), was the battleground for the Cold War. We may not have shot directly at Moscow, but we would shoot at their allies whenever we could. Likewise, we would support anyone they hated. The saying goes, "any enemy of my enemy is my friend", which was why we supported and trained such names as Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden when they were fighting against the Soviets or their "allies". Now the the Soviet Union is gone, many old "friends" have became hated enemies, with few really knowing what has happened.\nAnyway, I hope this helps you out somehow. I am a history teacher so I know a thing or two. Good luck, and hope I gave you enough info.
70645
The collapse of the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics radically changed the world's economic and political environment. No other conflict of interest dominated the post World War Two world like the cold war did. One man is credited with ending the cold war, Mikhail Gorbachev. This however was not the biggest event Gorbachev was responsible for. The end of the cold war was just a by-product of the other major event he was involved with. That is the fall of communism in the USSR and the collapse of the USSR itself.\n\nGorbachev a communist reformer was appointed General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1985. His appointment followed the death of three previous Soviet leaders in three years. Leonid Brezhnev was first to go followed by Yuri Andropov and Konstantin Chernenko. Not being able to afford another short term leader the old guard appointed the youthful 56 year old Mikhial Gorbachev as General Secretary.\n\nFrom the outside it seemed as if this great superpower self destructed in only three months. The USSR's demise is of course more complicated than this. The break up of the USSR can be traced back to Gorbachevs appointment and his early reforms. Gorbachev introduced a wide ranging program of reform. His major reforms were glasnost, perestroika and democratisation. These reforms allowed the problems of the USSR to be uncovered and become public knowledge.
487958
well, sorry, but Ronald Reagan is involved in my answer.  The end of the Cold War was a pretty major one.
377748
Many changes in Latin America didn't happen because of the US Army. It's not that many countries didn't try to change, it's little our powerful Big Brother from the North is always watching.
983320
Latin America is one of the places in the world that less spend money with military. We simply don't think that's important. To state that we don't because we don't have money to is ridiculous, excuse me but only a stupid gringo like you can say something like that. We don't enter in war because we simply are not war-oriented countries. We don't like it. And everybody should be suspicious of countries that are so proud of their military power. Do you think Arabs have more money than Latin Americans? And to the stupid ones that say that Latin American countries make war agains themselfes I want to remind that Cuba is the only non-democratic country Latin America nowadays. Give me bad marks if you want, I don't need and I don't want your aproval, stupid gringo.\n\nBy the way, you are so prouded of your military, why couldn't you handle with Vietnan and why can't you handle with Iraq?
49824
To some degree, the answer to your question depends on which side of the Iron Curtain you sided with.  Americans will blame the Russians (soviets) and Russians blame Americans.\n\nI think it is the US fear of communism and the policy of containment that started the Cold War.
338240
Europe and latin America are not two homogenous blocs.\nEurope is also divided in a northern Germanic and protestant land and a southern latin and catholic land in the mediterranean lands.\n\nSo latin America has huges differences with northern Europe (economic, religious, racial, linguistically), but much less with southern Europe (same religion, similar languages and partly same ethnic composition) (but still differences of economic level and amerindian/african influences in Lat Am)
161749
Yes. Cuba at the time posed a significant threat to the United States, since it was closely allied with the USSR diplomatically, and was only about 60 miles from Miami, one of the US' largest cities. A war fought there could have meant the end of the United States.\n\nAlso, the Madison Doctrine technically makes US intervention in Latin American politics allowed, although it is a distasteful piece of legislation. Still, it is essential to American national security.\n\nIt was poorly executed because Castro knew what was happening, and the invasion was poorly planned. The CIA trained exiles were also expecting massive amounts of internal help from Cubans, but they were disappointed. Almost no one showed up at the party.
422048
The Cold War in the 1950s was marked by a policy of containment adopted by the United States as well as a policy of Peaceful Coexistence adopted in the wake of the death of Stalin by the USSR under Kruschev. Both policies led to a consolidation of spheres of interest and boundaries, with the aim of minimizing the risk of the outbreak of another major war, after the example that had been set up the Korean War.
165751
Hard to tell, seeing as how much time has passed. I bet Latin America wouldn't be Catholic, since Spain would probably have been taken over as well. \n\nProbably no Protestant Reformation, either. The world would be quite different.
93274
Most of South America and México.
333717
Gosh, this is difficult... I promised myself I'd never get involved in giving homework help (because of the reported abuse of internet 'help' happening here in the UK).\n\nHowever, the Cold War is a part of my personal history and I feel duty bound to pass on my experience to a new generation, so here goes...\n\nThe predominant feeling in my family was of uncertainty and sometimes (mobilisation of Warsaw Pact troops on the German border, incursion of Soviet shipping into our territorial waters, the Cuba Crisis etc) downright fear.\n\nMy Dad joined the Territorial Army (TA)(a bit like the US National Guard I suspect), so he'd be trained to do his bit when the 'coldness' went and we were at war again. With the threat of atom bombs there was a sort of sense that any day could be our last, so there was no real feeling of a certain future to save or plan for. The idea of 'what matters is that we are alive today, so let's make the most of that' - was a pretty widespread feeling.\n\nAt the time of the Cuba Crisis I was still at school and in almost all classes there was a radio turned on. We were given instructions where to go, and what to do in case of nuclear missile attack and shown public information films on Nuclear, Biological and Chemical warfare. Perhaps they thought young lads would be excited by the adventure - I was scared out of my wits and couldn't sleep at night...\n\nI guess we also felt helpless here in England. We are closer to Russia (well within striking distance of even their home-based weaponry) and no longer a major player on the world stage. Our future depended on how the Americans responded and I think that bred a sort of resentment, as well as adding to the insecurity.\n\nHow did it affect us? For me personally it had a similar affect to that on my dad. When I was old enough I joined the TA so I'd be ready when the time came. And even when the Cold War was more 'frozen' and the threat seemed less imminent, I still joined the regular Army. As I have already said we didn't bother with savings, house purchase, even saving plans inthose days... we just lived for today and short term goals became more important than perhaps they should have been. I think we were also less inclined to forgive, and more suspicious of people, which may have contributed (along with the stress) to marriage and relationship breakdowns.\n\nSpending went up, not because wages were much higher, but because we wanted to enjoy life while we had the chance and most people were focussed on the 'here and now' in terms of what they ate, how they dressed and so on.\n\nThis is getting far too long, but I hope I've given you some idea of our feelings and what it was like for an ordinary English family to live through the Cold War...
196086
Yes, because the USA and those other wealthy nations have usually forced these nations to take those loans in the first place. This is what happened in Latin America. During the 70's and early 80's, with puppet governments actively supported by the USA, most Latin American countries have borrowed lots of money. This money went to the pockets of a few already wealthy businessmen, or was lost to corruption. And corrupted ministers, sponsored by the American government, have passed the debt over to the state. So Latin American states contracted huge debts for money they didn't even profit. This happened with the acceptance of the US government, and to the benefit of such American people as Henry Kissinger. So, let those people (in the USA and in Latin America) pay off the debt, not the countries, which are poorer and poorer.
351065
The 1950s in the United States of America were marked with a sharp rise in the economy for the first time in almost 30 years and return to the 1920s-type consumer society built on credit and boom-times, as well as the baby boom from returning GIs who went to college under the G.I. Bill and settled in suburban America. Most of the internal conflicts that had developed in earlier decades like women's rights, civil rights, imperialism, and war were relatively suppressed or neglected during this time as a world returning from the brink hoped to see a more consistent way of life as opposed to liberalism and radicalism of the 1930s and 1940s. The effect of suppressing social problems in the 50s would have a significant impact on the rest of the twentieth century.\n\nThe 1950s were also marked with a rapid rise in conflict with the United States and the Soviet Union that would heighten the Cold War to an unprecedented level which would include the Arms Race, Space Race, McCarthyism, and Korean War. Stalin's death in 1953 left an enormous impact in Eastern Europe that forced the Soviet Union to create more liberal policies internally and externally. The rise of Suburbia as well as the growing conflict with the East are the two generally accepted reasons for the conservative domination of this decade.
667322
Boy, there's a debate.\n\nShort Answer: The United States, and it did it by spend the Soviet Union into oblivion. The USSR suffered the fate of most empires -- it overextended itself and ran of the resources necessary to sustain its empire.\nBut the US did it at a terrible cost. We are now stuck with a military-industrial complex that is bleeding us drive and could very soon threaten our own superiority.\n\nSo philosophical answer: The Cold War isn't over yet, and we could still lose.
764627
The Domino Theory. The Soviets would export communism to countries one by one making them fall in their sphere. Eventually the US would be surrounded by a globe of hostile nations.
569940
No, because Communist Dictatorships are beginning to Flourish in Central, and South America. Most Notably Venezuela, and now Brazil.There is an Open Alliance with Cuba that, when Castro Dies, his Regime will, unfortunately Continue. I Hope I'm wrong, but I don't think so.