Civil wars, poverty, and the legacy of colonization plagued Latin American nations throughout the 20th century. Many of these governments have been challenged with instability, corruption, and international debt. These factors, along with cultural mores, often increased pressure on families already struggling to maintain their ways of life.

You will be assigned topics that reflect the issues surrounding changes to daily life in Latin America throughout the 20th century. Use what you have learned to write an Analytical Essay examining the policies of Latin American governments and their affect on men, women, and children. To prepare your essay, you will research societal, cultural, and historic influences, as well as the impact of modernization and industrialization on people’s lives.

Look at the photograph below. Answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper.

A 10-year old Costa Rican boy works in a lettuce field in 2001. Despite economic advances in Latin America, many farmers still rely on child labor.

• What are some causes and effects of child labor?
• What does this photograph tell you about daily life in this country?

Use the Daily Life through History articles listed on the right to research the ways in which the policies of Latin American governments, along with historical influences, have affected daily life throughout the 20th century. As you read, keep your assigned topic in mind. Remember to note specific facts that support your statements, as well as examples from the readings.

Use the 2-Column Table to organize your information. In the left column, list policies of Latin American governments, such as consolidation of export economies. Fill in the right column with details describing the effects of those policies on daily life, such as reduction in subsistence agriculture, loss of traditional livelihoods of rural people.

Write your essay. Remember to draw clear and coherent connections between the factors of change in Latin America and the effects of those factors on daily life.

Your teacher will use these questions to assess your performance:

• Did you organize your information clearly and systematically?
• Did your essay reflect the research that you have done?
• Did you identify the most important policies of Latin American governments?
• Did you make connections between the policies and their effect on daily life?