Make the Right Choice Or Else-Latin American Addition
Mary Tsahas, Peteer Vayias, Brandon Marafino, and Kathryn Ritchie
Overall Background: (Peter and Mary)
During the Cold War, there were tensions between Latin American countries and America as many Latin American governments adopted the idea of communism. The three main communist Latin American countries were Cuba, Nicaragua, and Guatemala.
On April 7th, 1954, Guzman, the leader of Guatemala, starts importing weapons from the Soviets, so the U.S. exports weapons to Honduras. Honduras then goes into Guatemala and overthrows Guzman. This shows American intervention in communist countries in Latin America. In Venezuela, Under the rule of the Dictator Marcos Perez Jimenez, the Venezuelan economy experienced a boom, born from Venezuela's great oil wealth. During this time, foreign investment, particularly from American oil companies, grew along with the support from the Jimenez Regime. The anti-communist regime allowed the exploitation of the country's natural resources by the American oil industry.
On April 7th, 1959, Fidel Castro becomes leader of Cuba and begins to develop a relationship with the Soviet Union, making Cuba a communist country. As Cuba continues to grow, Cuba becomes a threat, so Eisenhower and the CIA plan an invasion of Cuba. In 1961, the U.S. launches the Bay of Pigs Invasion. Cuban exiles sent by the CIA are sent to invade Cuba, but ultimately surrender after the Cuban people do not join their side.
After the failure of the Bay of Pigs, the U.S. established Operation Mongoose, which planned to end Castro’s communist rule in Cuba. This operation fails as well as many components are incomplete, so Fidel Castro remains in power.
In April of 1962, the Cuban Missile Crisis began. The Soviet Union sent missiles to Cuba. As a result, in October the U.S. created a blockade. JFK then calls for a removal of mass weapons from Cuba. In September, Kennedy issues warning to Kremlin, the Soviet leader Public warning against the transportation and assembly of Soviet missiles into Cuba. The Soviet Union backs down and removes the missiles. The U.S. then lifts the blockade, promises not to invade Cuba, and withdraws missiles from Turkey.
In April of 1967, Latin American countries sign the Treaty of Tlatelolco, which agrees to prohibit nuclear weapons in Latin America
In 1979, Nicaraguan Sandinista Revolution overthrew President Somoza, making Nicaragua a communist country. As a response to the Sandinista communist regime,
Reagan signed the National Security Decision Directive number 7, which allowed the U.S. to send arms to anti-Sandistina forces, known as the Contras, so they would be able to counter the communist regime in Nicaragua.
In Venezuela in 1998, Hugo Chavez is elected president and launches 'Bolivarian Revolution' that brings in new constitution. Socialist and populist economic and social policies funded by high oil prices, and increasingly vocal anti-US foreign policy is put into place.
As Latin American countries adopted communist system, the U.S. practiced their policy of containment as they continually attempt to prevent the spread of communism and communist countries’ influence.
Teams(Kathryn and Marafino):
The United States of America (John F. Kennedy, Henry Kissinger, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, United States advisors)
John F. Kennedy(Marafino):
John F. Kennedy was an intrical part of the cold war. Serving as the president from 1961-1963 the cold war was at its height. He had many direct affairs relating to the cold war. He was responsible for dealing with many large affairs. He was one of the cold wars most important figures. He was responsible for the Bay of Big Invasion. Sending troops unarmed to Cuba in another indirect conflict with russia. As they had supported the government in power and not the attempt to overthrow. He also had to deal with the cuban missile crisis a very public scare where US satellites showed missiles pointed at the united states that were capable of reaching almost all of the united states. He was able deal with this conflict diplomatically. John F kennedy contributions to the cold war are still debated today about their effectiveness.
Jimmy Carter(Marafino):
Carter escalated the Cold War. He would no longer ignore human rights violations in allied countries. He was known for ending support of Latin America’s most abusive leaders—President Somoza of Nicaragua.
*There can be multiple players as advisors and supporters. These people will be the ones to influence the decisions made by the main characters in tough situations.
U.S.S.R. (Nikita Khruschev, Anastas Mikoyan, U.S.S.R. advisors)
Nikita Khruschev(Kathryn):
Nikita Khruschev was the Soviet Premier of the U.S.S.R. during the height of the Cold War and had many interactions with Cuba during the Cold War and especially the situations in which there was tension between the U.S. and U.S.S.R. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, Khruschev took away the missiles they were storing on Cuba
Anastas Mikoyan(Kathryn):
Anastas Mikoyan was the Soviet Vice Premier who had many interactions with Castro during his time in power. Through Mikoyan, Castro and the USSR made many plans, including the placing of missiles on the island of
Cuba. In his travels between Cuba and Russia, he became a well known diplomat.
Latin American Regions*
*these countries are not teams bbu
Cuba (Fidel Castro, advisors and followers of Castro)
Fidel Castro(Kathryn):
Fidel Castro was the leader of Cuba during the Cold War. He turned Cuba into the first Communist state in the Western Hemisphere. Castro led a revolution against the authoritarian regime that led Cuba and became the prime minister in 1959. He had very strained relations with the United States and strong ties with the Soviet Union. These tensions turned into many conflicts including the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Bay of Pigs invasion. Castro’s relations have continued to impact the United States today.
Venezuela (Marcos Perez Jimenez, Romulo Betancourt, Hugo Chavez, Venezuelan advisors, coup supporters, Betancourt supporters)
Marcos Perez Jimenez(Kathryn):
Marcos Perez Jimenez was the dictator of Venezuela, ruling over one of the most harshly ruled countries ever in South America. Jimenez, in 1948, led a coup and named himself the provisional president of Venezuela. He later declared himself president where he actually acted as a dictator. Jimenez was able to make many advances for Venezuela, mainly in the capital of Caracas, yet his harsh actions to any person against him is what he was better known for. He was very repressive towards any opposition.
Romulo Betancourt(Kathryn):
Romulo Betancourt is known as the “Father of Venezuelan Democracy”. Betancourt was a left wing politician who led Venezuela before and after Jimenez’s coup and ultimate failure. Betancourt was in strong contact with the United States which helped shaped Betancourt’s ideas and overall the democracy in Venezuela. He was a very controversial figure but made many reforms for Venezuela and helped bring them up from the crises that Jimenez threw the country into.
Hugo Chavez(Marafino):
Hugo Chavez led a civilian/military coup after dissatisfaction and an economic decline in Venezuela. His first attempt was on February 4, 1992. Chávez had loyalty of 10% of Venezuela's military forces. He led five army units under into urban Caracas to seize key military and communications spot throughout the city, including the presidential residence , the defense ministry, La Carlota military airport, and the Military Museum. Chavez's ultimate goal was to intercept Pérez, take custody of him and allegedly execute him before he returned to Miraflores from an overseas trip. He planned to capture the president at Maiquetía airport. Chavez eventually gave himself up to the government. He was then allowed to appear on national television to call for all remaining rebel detachments in Venezuela to stop the rebellion. When he did so, Chavez told the public on national television that he had only failed "por ahora"(for now). He then staged a second rebellion which also resulted in failure. Rafael Caldera who was supposed to take power following the coup was able to run for president and win. He granted all participants in the rebellion pardons allowing Hugo Chavez to run for president in 1998 and win. He kept close contact with Castro leader of Cuba as they banded together with there socialistic views that the US had tried to eliminate with sanctions.
Nicaragua (Daniel Ortega, Anastasio Somoza Debayle, Somoza Dynasty supporters, Sandinista supporters)
Daniel Ortega(Marafino):
Daniel Ortega was the leader of the Sandinistas, a political party in nicaragua. When Jimmy Carter became president he became suspicious of Ortega's relationship with Eastern Europe and Cuban governments. The CIA trained, and equipped a guerrilla army to fight the Sandinistas. It went back to the fear the US had during the cold war of any country that had Marxist beliefs. Ronald Reagan funded the Guerrilla army called the Contras to continue the fight against the Sandinistas.
Anastasio Somoza Debayle(Marafino):
Anastasio Somoza DeBayle was a Nicaraguan politician and officially the 73rd and 76th President of Nicaragua. In 1975 Somoza Debayle launched a campaign to crush the Sandinistas; individuals suspected of supporting the Sandinistas were targeted. The Sandinistas was funded by the Soviet Union and Cuba under Fidel Castro. Support for the Sandinistas increased after an earthquake. Also when U.S President Jimmy Carter withdrew American support for the opposing force for human rights reasons.
Nation Profiles: (Mary and Peter)
United States of America
Government: Federal republic
Location: North America
Resources: Natural gas, coal, bauxite, copper
Leaders: Kennedy, Carter, Reagan
Cuba
Government: military dictatorship
Location: Island off of Florida
Resources: Nickel, iron ore, copper
Leaders: Fidel Castro
Venezuela
Government: democracy
Location: northeast coast of South America
Resources: natural gas, diamonds, bauxite, gold
Leaders: Carlos Perez, Hugo Chavez
Nicaragua
Government: communist dictatorship
Location: Central America
Resources: gold, silver, copper, lead
Leaders: Anastasio Somoza, Daniel Ortega
Russia
Government: Communist Government
Location: world’s largest nation, known as USSR. Borders European and Asian countries as well as the Pacific and Arctic oceans.
Resources: The mineral-packed Ural Mountains, vast fossil fuel (oil, gas, coal), timber reserves.
Leaders: Stalin, Khrushchev,
Terms to Know: (Peter)
Bay of Pigs invasion- 1400 Cuban exiles launched what became a botched invasion at the Bay of Pigs on the south coast of Cuba.
Operation Mongoose- Operation Mongoose, also known as the Cuban project was a secretive operation of the Central Intelligence Agency that was commissioned in March 1960 during the final year of President Dwight D. Eisenhower's administration planning to end Castro’s regime
Cuban Missile Crisis- also known as the October crisis of 1962, the Caribbean Crisis, or the Missile scare, was a 13 day confrontation between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. This was about the concern of American ballistic missile deployment in Italy and Turkey with consequent Soviet ballistic missile deployment in Cuba. The confrontation is often considered the closest the Cold War came to escalating into a full-scale nuclear war.
Treaty of Tlatelolco- The Treaty of Tlatelolco is the conventional name given to the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Sandinista- The Sandinista National Liberation Front is a democratic socialist political party in Nicaragua. Its members are called Sandinistas in both English and Spanish
Contras- The Contras were the various U.S.-backed and funded right-wing rebel groups that were active from 1979 to the early 1990s in opposition to the socialist Sandinista Junta of National Reconstruction government in Nicaragua.
Overview
Make the Right Choice Or Else-Latin American Addition is a simulation game covering the extent of the Cold War in South America and how the largest powers interfered with these small nations. The goal of the game is to safely resolve conflict, get what your country wants, and know when to back away from danger. One wrong move can start World War III, leading to the destruction of the whole world. Your goal is to advance your country’s agenda in the same path done in the Cold War.
Our simulation is a interactive powerpoint. It puts the player in the position of the two large players, the United States and the Soviet Union. The players are introduced to the game and asked to select what side they wish to work for. Students will be put into teams based on which side they wish to represent, U.S. or U.S.S.R. After they do, there is a historically accurate briefing is given about the larger goal of the country they have selected, either containment or spread of communism. Each team will also select two people as their leader, President Carter and President Kennedy for the U.S., and Kruschev and Mikoyan for U.S.S.R. The leaders will be responsible for telling the hosts their country’s final decision.
They are then asked to select a place in Latin America, our selected region. They are briefed on the region and a specific issue is given. We put three different possible solutions to the specified issue in the region and give the team one minute to select the best option in their opinion. The leaders should remember to collaborate with other as this game will require a team effort for very important decisions. Remember that you should think like the country you picked, because the decisions being made are real decisions made during the cold war. No matter what country you pick, every team will have an equal playing field. The best option may not necessarily be what your group thinks, because the decision was made by your character, your job is to think like them. Once your pick your answer, you are then directed to another slide telling you if your answer is correct or not. In addition, that slide will also explain why your decision is wrong along with the correct decision. For every solution they select that is correct, they gain 10 points, and for every solution that is incorrect, they lose 5 points. The side with the most amount of points at the end wins. After one team goes through the game, the other team will then go through and solve issues based on their opposing perspective. They will be given different possible solution from the other nations perspective as well a
Group Evaluation:
On a scale of 1 to 5, answering the following questions, with 1 being the worst and 5 being the best.
How clear was the instruction guide?
How entertaining was the game?
How well did the game help you learn?