Unit 3 Exam

Here's My Unit 3 Exam Answer– Essay:

1. In this essay I want you to describe the concept of neocolonialism.
2. What does the term mean?
3. What are it’s economic and political underpinnings and outcomes?

• Make sure to include examples from the class. You should also discuss U.S. military interventions in Latin America as they relate to neocolonialism (describe at least three). You can use your class notes and your book to assist you.
• This should be answered in a formal essay format – 5 paragraphs MINIMUM! Remember how to construct a formal essay…I. IntroII. Supporting argument (paragraph)III. Supporting argument (paragraph)IV. Supporting argument (paragraph)V. Conclusion

Neocolonialism. What does it mean? It means the economic and political policies by which a great power indirectly maintains or extends its influence over other areas or people. So in other words bigger and powerful countries making governments in smaller and powerless colonies or countries. So as far as Latin America goes, the U. S. did a lot of neocolonialism in some countries.

There were many different incidents and outcomes from the U.S. practicing neocolonialism. One of the first to fight back against the United States was Augusto Sandino. In 1933 he launched a guerilla war against the U.S. occupiers in Nicaragua. U.S. soldiers had occupied Nicaragua from 1912-1933. This interfention was a more violent military intervention instead of a mostly peaceful debt-collecting operation or public health & sanitation project like in other countries like Dominican Republic. But then again, Nicaragua wasn't the only country that had U.S. occupiers that were more violent thatn helpful. Anyway Sandino's guerillas and the U.S. marines were in a five year shooting war. Augusto Sandino was soon looked at as a hero because he stood up to the United States.

Another example, besides the U.S. soldier occupants, would be that several U.S. interventions installed leaders who became long-term dictators, corrupt petty tyrants, known for their greed and their obedience to U.S. policy. One sample of this would be in the country Chile. In 1970, Chile elected Salvado Allende Gossens who was the first Marxist to be elected president by popular vote in Latin America. Allende nationalized private companies, instituted programs of land reform and in foreign affairs and attempted to turn Chile into a socialist stae. But Allende was losing control. Domestic problems led to a series of violent strikes and demonstrations. As it got worse, the neutral Chilean military began to pressure Allende; he yieled to some of their demands and appointed military men to several high cabinet positions. Now here's where the U.S. steps in. In 1973, the United States backed the armed forces, who staged a coup in which they overthrew Allende (who died in the process). In the same, U.S. ushered int he regime of General Augusto Pinochet to take over. But this was after the coup (that the U.S. backed) led to the execution, detention, or expulsion from Chile of thousands of people. Even with General Augusto Pinochet's take over (appointed by the U.S.), the country continued to deteriorate.

One last example of the neocolonialism in Latin America would be amount of change it went through. There were massive changes that occurred that affected the lives of everyone, no matter rich and poor, urban and rural. Latin American countries became modern metropolises, comparable to urban giants anywhere. They had street cars swaying, telephones jangling, and silent movies flickering from Montevideo & Santiago to Mexico City & Havana They were multiplying in railroads and export goods such as sugar, coffee, copper, grain, bananas, rubber, and tobacco. Landowners and urban middle-class people prospered, but the life of Latin Americans rural majority improved little.

So, neocolonialism had it's good and it's bad. In some ways there was peace, like the modern changes within the countries, and some ways there was wars and violence because fo U.S. military interventions and invasions.