Decree 900

Decree 900
source
Decree name	Decree 900
Issued by	United Fruit Company, Guatemalan Congress
Date issued	1952
Location	Guatemala City, Guatemala

Decree 900 was a significant land reform law passed in Guatemala in 1952, during the presidency of Jacobo Árbenz Guzmán. The decree was aimed at redistributing land from large latifundia owned by corporations like the United Fruit Company to small-scale farmers and peasants, many of whom were of Maya descent. This move was part of a broader effort to address the country's severe income inequality, which was exacerbated by the dominance of foreign corporations like Chiquita Brands International and Dole Food Company. The decree was also influenced by the Mexican Revolution and the Bolivian National Revolution, which had implemented similar land reforms in Mexico and Bolivia.

● Introduction to

Decree 900 Decree 900 was a product of the Guatemalan Revolution of 1944, which overthrew the dictatorial regime of Jorge Ubico Castañeda and established a democratic government. The new government, led by Juan José Arévalo Bermejo and later Jacobo Árbenz Guzmán, sought to address the country's social and economic problems, including the concentration of land ownership. The decree was influenced by the ideas of José Martí, Emiliano Zapata, and other Latin American leaders who had advocated for land reform and social justice. The Guatemalan Communist Party and other leftist organizations, such as the Partido Guatemalteco del Trabajo, also played a significant role in shaping the decree.

● History of

Decree 900 The history of Decree 900 is closely tied to the Cold War and the United States' efforts to contain the spread of communism in Latin America. The CIA and the US State Department saw the decree as a threat to the interests of American corporations like the United Fruit Company, which had significant investments in Guatemala. The company's influence extended to the US Congress, where politicians like Allen Dulles and John Foster Dulles had close ties to the company. The Dulles brothers played a key role in shaping US policy towards Guatemala, which ultimately led to the overthrow of the Árbenz government in 1954. The 1954 Guatemalan coup d'état was backed by the CIA and involved the participation of Nicaraguan dictator Anastasio Somoza García and Honduran president Juan Manuel Gálvez.

● Provisions and Implementation

Decree 900 provided for the expropriation of land from large landholders and its redistribution to small-scale farmers and peasants. The decree established a National Agrarian Institute to oversee the implementation of the land reform, which was modeled after the Mexican Agrarian Reform and the Bolivian Land Reform. The institute was responsible for identifying land that was suitable for redistribution and for providing support to the new landowners. The decree also established a system of cooperatives and credit unions to help small-scale farmers access markets and finance. The Guatemalan Ministry of Agriculture and the Instituto Nacional de Cooperativas played a key role in implementing the decree, which was also supported by international organizations like the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and the Inter-American Development Bank.

● Impact and Controversies

The impact of Decree 900 was significant, as it led to the redistribution of over 1.5 million acres of land to more than 100,000 families. The decree also helped to increase agricultural production and improve the living standards of small-scale farmers and peasants. However, the decree was also controversial, as it was opposed by large landholders and foreign corporations like the United Fruit Company. The company launched a public relations campaign to discredit the decree and the Árbenz government, which was accused of being communist and anti-American. The controversy surrounding the decree ultimately contributed to the overthrow of the Árbenz government and the reversal of the land reform. The Guatemalan Civil War, which lasted from 1960 to 1996, was in part a response to the failure of the land reform and the ongoing struggles of small-scale farmers and peasants.

● Legacy of

Decree 900 The legacy of Decree 900 is complex and multifaceted. On the one hand, the decree represented a significant attempt to address the social and economic problems of Guatemala and to promote social justice. The decree also inspired similar land reforms in other Latin American countries, such as Cuba and Nicaragua. On the other hand, the decree was ultimately unsuccessful in achieving its goals, as it was reversed by the Guatemalan military and the US-backed government that followed. The failure of the decree also had significant consequences for the people of Guatemala, who continued to struggle with poverty, inequality, and violence. Today, the legacy of Decree 900 is remembered by organizations like the Guatemalan Human Rights Commission and the Latin American Studies Association, which continue to advocate for social justice and human rights in Guatemala and throughout Latin America. The decree is also studied by scholars at universities like Harvard University, University of California, Berkeley, and Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, who seek to understand the complex history and politics of Latin America.