Changes

Jiang Zemin succeeded Deng when he died in 1997.  He refused to improve China’s record on human rights, and Christianity and democracy remain suppressed there.  Moreover, China has armed itself in preparation for a war with the United States, pointing many nuclear missiles at California.

Jiang Zemin succeeded Deng when he died in 1997.  He refused to improve China’s record on human rights, and Christianity and democracy remain suppressed there.  Moreover, China has armed itself in preparation for a war with the United States, pointing many nuclear missiles at California.

On July 1, 1997, Great Britain’s lease on Hong Kong expired and Britain returned its former colony to China, which promised to allow Hong Kong to remain capitalistic for another 50 years.

On July 1, 1997, Great Britain’s lease on Hong Kong expired and Britain returned it to China, which promised to allow Hong Kong to remain capitalistic for 50 more years.

=== Latin America ===

=== Latin America ===

"Latin America" includes Spanish America and Brazil, where Portuguese is the primary language.  In other words, Latin America is all of America south of the United States, other than the Caribbean islands.  [[Latin America]] is thus Mexico, Central and South America.  It has 523 million people, far more than the U.S. population of about 300 million.

"Latin America" includes Spanish America and Brazil, where Portuguese is the primary language.  In other words, Latin America is all of America south of the United States, other than the Caribbean islands.  [[Latin America]] is thus Mexico, Central and South America.  It has 523 million people, far more than the U.S. population of about 300 million.

The nations of Latin America had won their political independence from European powers long before the 20th century.  But they have struggled in becoming economically independent.  It was not until the middle of the 20th century that Latin American nations began to export manufactured goods in addition to minerals and food.  In the 1970s and 1980s, huge debts to foreign powers combined with a depression caused severe economic problems.  Some blame lending policies of developed nations and their organizations, such as the World Bank, for causing this debt crisis.  After much loan forgiveness and an improved worldwide economy, Latin American nations had stronger economies and less dependence on foreign powers by the end of the 20th century.

The nations of Latin America had won their political independence from European powers long before the 20th century.  But they have struggled in becoming economically independent.  It was not until the middle of the 20th century that Latin American nations began to export manufactured goods in addition to minerals and food.  In the 1970s and 1980s, huge debts to foreign powers combined with a depression caused severe economic problems.  Lending policies of developed nations and their organizations, such as the World Bank, led to this debt crisis.  By 2000, after much loan forgiveness and an improved worldwide economy, Latin American nations had stronger economies and less dependence on foreign powers.

In Mexico, the rule of President Lazaro Cardenas from 1934 to 1940 redistributed land from the wealthy to peasants.  He also forced foreign investors to give up control over Mexican oil wells.

In Mexico, the rule of President Lazaro Cardenas from 1934 to 1940 redistributed land from the wealthy to peasants.  He also forced foreign investors to give up control over Mexican oil wells.