many different types of government, mostly dictatorships. Most of South America won independence from Spain and Portugal between 1810 and 1824. In 1823, President James Monroe enunciated the first US policy on Latin America. The Monroe Doctrine warned European nations against interfering in the affairs of independent nations in the Western Hemisphere. In 1904, Roosevelt's Corollary said the US would act as a "policeman", intervening militarily when US interests were at risk. After W.W.II, the independent countries …showed first 75 words of 982 total…

…showed last 75 words of 982 total…terrorist captured the Chinese embassy. They were put down after an extended stand off in late April of 1997. For the first time ever, all twelve South American countries have democratic governments. South America, "a continent famous for coups and military dictators, has embraced civilian, democratic leadership." South American democracy is very fragile. As modernization, the exchange of ideas, and trade with other democracies begin to happen, "South Americans are hoping their democratic experiments will succeed."