Question

Which type of policies made U.S. leaders believe that Jacobo Árbenz, the democratically elected president of Guatemala, was a communist sympathizer?

Árbenz’s anti-Catholic policies
Árbenz’s pro-union policies
Árbenz’s land reform policies
Árbenz’s nationalization policies

Answer 1

U.S. leaders believed that Jacobo Árbenz, the democratically elected president of Guatemala, was a communist sympathizer primarily due to his **land reform policies**. Árbenz implemented extensive land reforms that involved the redistribution of land, including land owned by the United Fruit Company, which was a significant American business interest in Central America. His nationalization policies, specifically regarding the land reform, raised suspicions among U.S. officials and contributed to the perception that he had communist tendencies. Although his pro-union policies and other stances also played a role, it was the land reform that was most directly associated with fears of communist influence in the region.