Bolivia

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Bolivia

Outline Bolivia

Introduction:

I. The History of Bolivia

A. Independence

1. Revolution

B. Political Instability

1. The Regime of Paz Estenssoro

2. Rule by the Army

II. The Economy

A. Resources

1. Mining, Manufacture, and Trade

2. Agriculture, Fishing, and Forestry

B. Strengths and Weaknesses

1. Currency and Banking

2. Labor

III. The Culture

A. Location

1. Terrain

2. Climate

B. Cocaine

1. Effects

2. War on Drugs

Bolivia

In this report I will give a brief overview of the history, economy and culture of Bolivia. Bolivia was one of the first countries in the Spanish Empire to attempt a break from Spain, but it was one of the last to succeed. The Spanish suppressed the first critical rebellion in May 1809. Bolivia declared its independence from Spain on August 6, 1825, and took the name Bolivia in honor of South American independence leader Simón Bolívar. In 1826 a congress adopted a constitution drafted by Bolívar. It vested supreme authority in a president, who was chosen for a life term.

In May 1951 Paz Estenssoro won nearly half the presidential election vote while in exile. In order to prevent the election of Paz Estenssoro, the incumbent president, placed the government under the control of the military and resigned. General Hugo Ballivián was appointed president. General René Barrientos Ortuno, a member of the government by the army, was elected president in July 1966. In July 1980 General Luís García Meza seized power, suspended the constitution, and instituted a repressive regime. Many politicians, labor leaders, and military men who opposed García Meza were arrested and killed, and many more fled abroad.

Jaime Paz Zamora became presi...

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...native Indians. The native people have used the coca leafs as a medicinal drug up until the present day. Until the early 1950’s the coca leaf was readily used in soft drinks and was considered socially excitable in the United States. In the early 1960’s the United States made cocaine illegal and created a large underworld in most Latin America countries. By the mid 1960’s over sixty five percent of Bolivia’s workers made their livelihood off the coca plant. The Bolivian government had no reason to try to stop the drug trade in their country; cartel leaders were paying huge payments to government officials. During the 1980’s Ronald Regan attempted to curve the in flux of cocaine in to the United States with no real results. During 1990’s the United States started to send large amounts of funding and training for Latin America’s military to combat the cartels.

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