DICTATORS OF THE WORLD

Youth

• born in 1954 in Venezuela• spent 2 years in prison after a failed attempt in

1992 to overthrow the government (coup)• won presidential election in 1998; took office

a year later

President of Venezuela

• set up “Bolivarian” socialism, including the implementation of social programs for the poor

• Members of the middle and upper classes disliked Chavez and attempted to overthrow him in 2002.

• Chavez has since blamed the U.S. for supporting the uprising.

Legacy as President

• has used profits from vast oil reserves in Venezuela to help benefit the poor

• has improved education, health and literacy• voters have overturned term limits, giving him

the opportunity to run for office forever• has taken away private land and industries so

they can be run by his government

Antagonist of the U.S.

• has had friendly relations with Cuba, Iran & Iraq• has made changes that limit the freedoms of speech and

the press• has denounced the U.S. as an imperialist power: "The

most negative force in the world today is the government of the United States."

Citations

• http://www.biography.com/people/hugo-ch%C3%A1vez-193225

• http://latinamericanhistory.about.com/od/presidentsofsouthamerica/p/09HChavez.htm

• http://www.notablebiographies.com/news/Ca-Ge/Ch-vez-Hugo.html#ixzz29ObVtZNA