This document provides an overview of Latin American history from the 19th to 21st centuries. It describes the transition from Spanish colonies to independent republics, which struggled due to a lack of preparation for self-rule. Political chaos and strongman leaders known as caudillos dominated, often alternating between liberal and conservative ideologies. Conservatives generally maintained power and the status quo with great inequality. In the early 20th century, the U.S. intervened militarily in several countries. The Great Depression had disastrous effects, and military juntas gained strength. WWII boosted Latin American economies through alliances and trade. After 1945, juntas and drug cartels rose to power in many countries.