Question

Why did the United States overthrow the regime of Jacobo Arbenz in 1954?

1) Because Arbenz was a communist leader
2) Because Arbenz was a dictator
3) Because Arbenz threatened US economic interests
4) Because Arbenz was involved in illegal activities

Answer 1

OPtion (3), The United States overthrew Jacobo Arbenz in 1954 because his land reforms and perceived communist sympathies threatened US economic interests, especially the United Fruit Company, leading to a CIA-supported coup that installed a military dictatorship.

Step-by-step explanation:

The United States overthrew the regime of Jacobo Arbenz in 1954 principally because Arbenz threatened US economic interests, particularly those of the United Fruit Company, and due to fears of Arbenz's perceived communist sympathies. Despite introducing social reforms and a program of land reform aimed at distributing land to landless peasants, Arbenz's policies alarmed the US government and corporate interests.

Arbenz had also legalized the Guatemalan Party of Labor, which was seen as communist by the US. The Eisenhower administration, influenced by strong anti-communist sentiment and personal connections within the government to the United Fruit Company, authorized the CIA to support a military coup that led to Arbenz's ouster, replacing him with a more US-friendly military dictatorship under Colonel Carlos Castillo Armas.