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The CIA helped overthrow the government of Jacobo Arbenz Guzmán in [[Guatemala]] in 1954.  This was one of its most controversial operations, its model for subsequent covert action against countries like [[Cuba]], and its first attempt at regime change in Latin America.

The CIA helped overthrow the government of Jacobo Arbenz Guzmán in [[Guatemala]] in 1954.  This was one of its most controversial operations, its model for subsequent covert action against countries like [[Cuba]], and its first attempt at regime change in Latin America.

Arbenz was democratically elected. He considered himself a socialist and joined the Communist Party in 1957. His land reform, designed by the Communist Party, was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, which he then purged. It sought to remove land held by multinational corporations, and give it to landless working class peasants, who toiled under neo-colonial, feudalistic conditions.  His regime openly praised Stalin, relied on the communists for key decisions, and received arms from the Soviet

Arbenz was elected without a secret ballot. He considered himself a communist and joined the Communist Party in 1957. His land reform, designed by the Communist Party, was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, which he then purged. His regime openly praised Stalin, relied on the communists for key decisions, and received arms from the Soviet

bloc.<ref>Piero Gleijeses, Shattered Hope: The Guatemalan Revolution and the United States, 1944-1954

bloc.<ref>Piero Gleijeses, Shattered Hope: The Guatemalan Revolution and the United States, 1944-1954

(Princeton University Press, 1991), pp84, 147, 145, 155, 181-2, a virtual hagiography of Arbenz.</ref> He killed hundreds of his opponents.<ref>“Antecedentes Inmediatos (1944-1961): El derrocamiento de Arbenz y la intervención militar de

(Princeton University Press, 1991), pp84, 147, 145, 155, 181-2, a virtual hagiography of Arbenz.</ref> He killed hundreds of his opponents.<ref>“Antecedentes Inmediatos (1944-1961): El derrocamiento de Arbenz y la intervención militar de

1954,” in Comisión para el Esclaracimiento Histórico (CEH), Guatemala: Memoria Del Silencio

1954,” in Comisión para el Esclaracimiento Histórico (CEH), Guatemala: Memoria Del Silencio

(Guatemala, 1999), Capítulo primero (findings of Guatemala's independant truth commission after the restoration of civilian rule and democracy)</ref> The CIA intervened because it feared that a communist dictatorship would become a Soviet beachhead in the Western Hemisphere, and also because they feared that similar uprisings of the masses against foreign powers and corporations might occur in the neighboring countries of El Salvador and Honduras<ref>Nicholas Cullather, Secret History: The CIA’s Classified Account of its Operation in Guatemala,

(Guatemala, 1999), Capítulo primero (findings of Guatemala's independant truth commission after the restoration of civilian rule and democracy)</ref> The CIA intervened because it feared that a communist dictatorship would become a Soviet beachhead in the Western Hemisphere.<ref>Nicholas Cullather, Secret History: The CIA’s Classified Account of its Operation in Guatemala,

1952-1954 (Stanford University Press, 1999) pp24-7, based on the CIA archives</ref>

1952-1954 (Stanford University Press, 1999) pp24-7, based on the CIA archives</ref>