Chapter 36 : Latin America The post-World War II era produced many challenges to Latin American nations. Rapid industrialization brought new wealth to the region, but the sharp division between rich and poor often led to political unrest. In the late 1950s Fidel Castro's revolution in Cuba brought communism to the Western Hemisphere. To contain communism's spread, the United States often supported military dictatorships in various Latin American countries against leftist-led insurgencies. During the 1980s and 1990s, pro-democracy movements overturned dictatorships in several Latin American countries. A new generation of political leaders began to encourage free enterprise, free trade, and a more limited role for government. In spite of economic advances, the region still faces rapid population growth, heavy foreign debt, and deep divisions between rich and poor.