The Progressive Rape of Latin America by Europe and America Persuasive Essay by scribbler

The paper focuses on five main issues in the work, "The Open Veins of Latin America", by Eduardo Galeano. Firstly, the paper discusses the Spanish conquistadors' hunger for gold and silver and how it was the beginning of a consumption and desertion cycle that continues today in Latin America at the workers' expense. Secondly, the paper explains how Spain's debts and Brazil's forced underdevelopment allowed England to economically conquer Spain and Portugal in the development of Atlantic capitalism. Thirdly, the paper discusses how the latifundio, export agriculture and the monoculture in Latin America maintained the imperialist control by eliminating any opportunity for self-sufficiency in Latin America. Fourthly, the paper addresses how U.S. and British economic imperialism in Latin America was cemented through free trade, the discovery of minerals in the fertile earth of Latin America and sub-imperialism. Finally, the paper discusses the argument that American foreign aid and international banking institutions were merely a means for the United States to gain further control of the already conquered Latin American region. In conclusion, this author posits that one cannot help but recognize that the atrocities committed in Latin America are still continuing until today.