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=== I. Latin America ===

=== I. Latin America ===

"Latin America" is Spanish America and Brazil, where Portuguese is spoken.  Put another way, Latin America is all of America south of the United States.  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" is Spanish America and Brazil, where Portuguese is the primary language.  In other words, Latin America is all of America south of the United States.  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.  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.

In one of the largest Latin American countries, Mexico, the rule by President Lazaro Cardenas from 1934 to 1940 ended the land monopoly enjoyed by a small number of wealthy Mexicans by redistributing the land to peasants.  He also forced foreign investors to give up control over Mexican oil wells.

In one of the largest Latin American countries, Mexico, the rule of President Lazaro Cardenas from 1934 to 1940 ended the land monopoly enjoyed by a small number of wealthy Mexicans by redistributing the land to peasants.  He also forced foreign investors to give up control over Mexican oil wells.

The Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI for its Spanish initials) controlled Mexico from 1929 to 2000, when Vicente Fox of PAN (Partido Accion Nacional) was elected president.  The PRI was known for corruption and acting on behalf of wealthy Mexicans.

The Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI for its Spanish initials) controlled Mexico from 1929 to 2000, when Vicente Fox of PAN (Partido Accion Nacional) was elected president.  The PRI was known for corruption and acting on behalf of wealthy Mexicans.