HUGO CHAVEZ
"Long Live the Unity of Latin America"
Profile
BORN : July 28th 1954 Presidency:1999-2013 DIED: March 5th 2013
Chavez is one of the most outspoken leaders of Latin America. He started off being a rebel trying to plot a coup against the President at the time however he failed and was imprisoned. Upon being released from prison he started a new political party and decided that he would gain power through the ballot. He was finally elected president in 1999. As president he reformed his country by reducing the poverty, increasing education, and public spending. These reforms brought venezuela to be a thriving country. Although a Great leader in his early years, Things slowly fell apart as his presidency progressed. He declared a socialist state and started seizing property and small profit industries, although he did not need these because of the government control over the oil industry. He was re-elected in 2012 ,but became ill with cancer and ended up passing away at age 58.
Letter to Lieutenant Colonel Hugo Chavez
Dear Lieutenant Colonel Hugo Chavez
It is so sad to hear that you have lost your fight against cancer, only at age 58. You dazzled us all with your efforts to bring down Carlos Andrés Pérez all the way back in 1992. You made it evident that you would be a very good leader for all of us to follow. We knew we were saved when you later stepped in for president. You increased social spending by 60.6% and decreased our poverty rate by 44% all while increasing our literacy rate and education facilities. And now 96% of our country has access to clean water! I don’t think America could ever do such a thing! Less people are dying and people seem happier than ever. I also adore how you stand up to the Americans who believe they can just control anything they want in our world. "The devil came here yesterday, and it smells of sulfur still today, this table that I am now standing in front of.” (Chavez) You said what all of us were thinking But not brave enough to say, Lieutenant Colonel Chavez. Your achievements are truly amazing and will always be remembered. You saved this country and your impact will forever be felt in venezuela as well as the rest of Latin America.
Love,
José
Video Analysis
This video is a great summary of Hugo Chavez’s life and rule. It goes over his rise to power, his first coup attempt, and his rise to power in Venezuela. Then it goes into his struggles within his own country, and bitterness towards The United States as well as his many interesting acts as a Dictator. It shows how he helped his country but as his presidency continued his ideas started to become socialist and more radical. The film was great with showing the struggles between Hugo Chavez and his connections around the world. He had a deep love for Cuba, especially his friend Castro, and the rest of Latin America, as well as any country that opposed the US. He was also very outspoken about things that he believed in. Enough to even call president Bush "the devil" at the UN. He lost the fight against cancer at age 58. Chavez remains loved in many Latin American’s minds.
Works Cited
" Hugo Chávez obituary | World news | The Guardian ." Latest US news, world news, sport and comment from the Guardian | guardiannews.com | The Guardian . N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Apr. 2013. <http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/mar/05/hugo-chavez>. " Fiery leader who became scourge of the US - Americas - Al Jazeera English." Al Jazeera English - Live US, Europe, Middle East, Asia, Sports, Weather & Business News. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Apr. 2013. <http://www.aljazeera.com/news/americas/2012/12/20121231819885930.html>