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