Chapter 7: Columbia Oral Report

Columbia in a Cracked Nutshell

Background

Columbia was first established as a colony by the Spanish, after their victory against the indigenous in the central cordillera, and Tairona, around the Caribbean. Similar to the settlements in central and South America, the Spanish establishment resulted in the mixing of indigenous and Spanish cultures and races. Nearly half of the percentage of inhabitants in Columbia were of mixed origins, out ranking the population of those classified as white, by about 15 percent. Then came the time when Columbia decided to begin to claim their independence. Many were still in favor of the Spanish crown maintaining rule over Columbia but many opted for national independence. This break for independence led to a military movement in which even lower class groups, having the title populachos, and even women were allowed to participate in the movement. Elites wanted to remain the dominant power of Columbia so through the failed attempt to create Columbia as a composite state, they developed a constitutional charter in 1821, which gave more rights for indigenous and Africans to become citizens and contribute, and even run for elections.

Separation in the Political Culture

·         “War of Supremos”- 1848 Development of Conservative vs. Liberal

·         Disagreement upon church authority and other Partisan conflicts

·         Alternating in power  over government

Coffee Cultivating Social Change

·         Coffee was prominent export for Columbia and many other countries in Latin America

·         Coffee’s success promoted new advancements in shipping and receiving supplies

Fall of Coffee, Rise of Cocaine

·         Largest export was illegal drugs, especially Cocaine

·          “Dutch Disease”

·         New economic growth through drug trade promoting social growth

·         The instability of the Columbian workforce led its success to meet a swift decline.

Conservative hegemony to the Liberal Republic

·         Conservative rule weakened by Great Depression

·         Movements that fought for a change in government rule

·         La Violencia

New Trends of Columbian Culture

·         Increased franchise for women

·         Cocaine strikes back

The Alliance Between the FARC Guerrilla group and Drug Cartels

·         Each side used one another to acquire economic leverage through acts of violence and the promotion of the drug trade industry.

·         Their relationships with one another varied from being either, tactical, instrumental, or extortionate.

·         FARC vs. Paramilitary

·         The Kidnapping of Ingrid Betancourt

Venezuela: Environmental Issues

Venezuela:

• Known for the “petroleum bonanza” that forever changed the face of the country

• Venezuela was not tempting for conquest

           -The Spaniards eventually took over but expectations were small

           -It soon became known for its livestock and agriculture

           -Its main role was to produce food for New Spain (Mexico)

• Caracas

         -became the central hub of political and economic life

         -became empowered and wanted independence

Petroleum Age (1908-1940)

• Juan Vicente Gomez –President of Venezuela

• Oil was becoming essential for industrial development and military strength

•  Under Gomez, Venezuela was now in the petroleum age and everything changed.

• “The government had only to produce scraps of official paper granting rights to drill on relatively worthless agricultural land” all petroleum profits were free.

• 1914: concessions were not equivalent to sales-subsequent law said that concessionaires would have rights to exploration of designated parcels not outright ownership.

• 1922: the law changed when the parcels were increased and lengthened periods of exploitation. 

• 1926: petroleum became the country’s chief export

• 1929: Venezuela was the largest oil exporter in the world

Dutch Disease (Royal Dutch/Shell)

•  An increase of oil production restricted Venezuela’s overall ability to create and maintain other industries.

• Government ignored serious social problems, including education, health, infrastructure, agriculture, and domestic industries

• Caused Venezuela to fall behind other industrialized countries

OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) 1950S-1960S:

• Goals: Five countries (Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela) working together in order to secure and stabilize the international oil prices.

The Years of Decline 1970s-1990s

• 1973: Oil crisis
• By the 1980s oil prices plummeted again.
• 1990s: More symptoms of Dutch Disease
• 1990-1998: industrial production declined

1998-Present

·         Hugo Chavez took office

·         Policy changes involving the oil industry were made

·         Strengthened Venezuela and other national industries to create a more developed nation.

·         Made drastic changes for the nation and became a historical figure.

Nutshell Report: MEXICO

MEXICO

“Poor Mexico! So far from God, and so close to the United States!” (MLA 45)

-Porfirio Díaz

Political Climate

Colonialismà Nationhood/DictatorshipàMexican RevolutionàDemocracy

History

·      1519 began the Spanish reign over indigenous people of Mesoamerica.

·      Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1810.

·      Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo signed in 1848 as a result of the Mexican American War.

·      El Porfiriato (1876-1911) Porfirio Díaz was in the Mexican presidency for 35 years.

·      Mexican Revolution 1910: Precipitated by the oppressed.

·      Rebels like Emilio Zapata from Southern Mexico and Pancho Villa from Northern Mexico were household names during the revolution.

·      1930’s President Cardenas creates stronger ties with US for foreign oil, PEMEX was created as a state oil monopoly.

·      1973 Inflation was out of control, causing Mexico immense economic hardship and struggles with foreign affairs and investors.

·      1980 Mexico discovers vast quantities of oil: 70-200 billion barrels.

North American Free Trade Act (NAFTA)

·      Implemented in 1992, an agreement between Canada, Mexico and the United States that would promote the free flow of goods, eliminating tariffs and trade barriers.

·      Hopes of NAFTA were to attract investment, stimulate employment and provide economic growth.  

·      “Mexico believed that NAFTA would to provide economic leverage with the rest of Latin America serving as a “bridge” between the developing worlds and the develop world as a representative and interlocutor for aspiring peoples of the south.” (MLA 75)

“Like it or not, the destiny of Mexico has been unavoidably intertwined with the United States.” (45)

Environment

·      Border of 2,000 miles with the United States

·      Abundance of Oil

·      Lots of agricultural lands

·      According to the Secretary of Environment, Mexico is known as one of the 18 mega diverse countries in the world

·      Dry climate in the North & Tropical lowlands in the South

Environmental Struggles

·      Hazardous waste disposal

·      Many natural and freshwater resources are scarce and polluted in North

·      Poor air quality in large cities e.g., Mexico City, Guadalajara, Juarez

·      Second fastest deforestation rate after Brazil (BBC News, 2011)

MLA Chapter 12: U.S. and Latin America Handout

Key Takeaways

• The U.S. exploited Latin America for military and political allies and resources
• WWI and WWII increased U.S. power in Latin America (Britain and France didn’t have resources to compete in this area)
• U.S. often replaced Latin American leaders if they didn’t like their policies, or funded Latin American counter-insurgency programs to protect U.S.-favored governments
• The U.S. relationship with Latin America changed in the 1990s with increased immigration; census revealed that the U.S. has the largest Spanish-speaking population in the hemisphere

Examples

·      FDR’s goals:

o   Military bases in the Caribbean and Atlantic coast of South America

o   Access to materials such as quartz and rubber

o   Allies or neutrality

·      Carlos Castillo Armas

o   In Guatemala, CIA organized exile invasion to replace reformer Colonel Jacobo Arbenz with Castillo Armas, who reversed expropriation of the United Fruit Co. and signed a mutual defense-assistance pact with U.S.

·      Cold War

o   U.S. was indifferent to Latin America until relations with Soviets soured; wanted Latin America to sever ties with Soviet Union and outlaw local communist parties

o   Bay of Pigs—unsuccessful attempt to overthrow Castro, led to Cuba announcing plans adopt socialism and strengthen ties with Soviet Union

·      9/11, immigration

o   After Cold War, U.S. tried to better define relationship with Latin America, consistent policy, reaction to democratization

o   U.S. foreign policy is turned upside down; Latin America is low priority as U.S. gets involved in global conflict

o   Immigration is controversial; U.S. depends on economic benefits from immigrants, but is concerned over jobs/homeland security/drug trafficking