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Guatemala: Civil War (1960-1996)
Part I
PRELUDE TO THE CIVIL
WAR
 For over 50 years (1890-1944),
Guatemala was ruled by military
dictators who gave favorable
treatment to foreigners (specifically,
the United States).
 General Jorge Ubico gave away
hundreds of thousands of acres to the
United Fruit Company and allowed the
U.S. military to establish bases in
Guatemala.
PRELUDE TO THE CIVIL
WAR
Ubico's policies led to
widespread protests, which
forced him to resign in 1944.
In 1950, Jacobo Árbenz won
the presidential election and
became Guatemala’s
democratically elected president.
PRELUDE TO THE CIVIL
WAR
 By 1950, a handful of U.S.
corporations controlled Guatemala's
electrical utilities, the nation's only
railroad, and the banana industry.
 Árbenz declared that he intended to
reduce dependency on foreign markets
and the influence of foreign
corporations.
PRELUDE TO THE CIVIL
WAR
The United Fruit Company
(Chiquita), felt threatened by
Árbenz's land reform initiative.
The United States ordered the
CIA to sponsor the overthrow of
President Árbenz. He resigned on
June 27, 1954 and was forced to
flee.
PRELUDE TO THE CIVIL
WAR
For the next 40 years,
Guatemala was ruled by
military dictators who
gave favorable treatment
to foreigners (specifically,
the United States).
C I V I L WA R I N G UAT E M A L A – PA R T
II
( TO B E CO N T I N UE D )