Chapter 11, Section World Geography Chapter 11 Central America and the Caribbean Copyright © 2003 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ. All rights reserved.

Chapter 11, Section World Geography Copyright © 2003 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ. All rights reserved. Section 1: Central America Section 2: The Caribbean Islands Chapter 11: Central America and the Caribbean

Chapter 11, Section Bellringers What are some of the countries that make up Central America? Do you know anything about them? If so, what?

Chapter 11, Section Central America

Chapter 11, Section Central America What are the major landforms and climates of Central America? What peoples and cultures are found in Central America? How have social and economic conditions sometimes led to political conflicts in the nations of Central America? 1

Chapter 11, Section Landforms and Climates Central America is an isthmus, a narrow strip of land that connects two larger bodies of land. High, rugged mountainous core runs the length of Central America, with many active volcanoes. Two climate zones exist at high elevations. The Caribbean lowlands on the eastern side of Central America have a tropical wet climate and dense rain forest vegetation. The Pacific coastal plain has a tropical wet climate with savanna vegetation made fertile by lava flows and volcanic ash. Devastating tropical storms and hurricanes can strike in the summer and early fall. 1

Chapter 11, Section The basic landform pattern of Central America consists of a core of mountains, with lowlands along the Caribbean and plains on the Pacific coast. This causes the Pacific coastal plain to be drier than the Caribbean lowlands which is rainier because it receives moisture throughout the year from the northeasterly winds blowing toward Central America.

Chapter 11, Section People and Cultures Indians Indian groups, each with its own separate and distinct culture, have lived the longest in Central America. Europeans The first Europeans arrived in the 1500s as conquerors and colonists. Mestizos Mestizos, or people of mixed European and Indian descent, make up a large part of the population. Africans People of African descent are descended either from enslaved Africans or from immigrants from the Caribbean islands. Central America is home to several ethnic groups. 1

Chapter 11, Section People and Cultures Little mixing of ethnic groups took place throughout Central America’s history because mountains blocked travel between areas. Because of this ethnic groups tend to be isolated from one another. One example is that compared with Guatemala, Costa Rica has a higher percentage of people of European descent. 1

Chapter 11, Section People and Cultures The majority of people of African ancestry who live in Central America are the descendants of people who migrated from the Caribbean islands in the early 1900s. 1

Chapter 11, Section Wealth, Poverty, and Political Conflict For most of Central American countries, the wealthy are mostly plantation owners, are European or Mestizos, and dominate government and politics in the region. The poor, mostly of Indian or African descent, include millions of farmers with little or no land and laborers on plantations or in factories. The majority of people in Central America earn their living from farming. 1

Chapter 11, Section Wealth, Poverty, and Political Conflict The shortage of farmland, made worse by the unequal distribution of usable land, has been a problem throughout the region. Governments serving mainly the interests of the wealthy have led opponents to organize guerilla movements, armed forces outside the regular army who often fight in small bands. A growing middle class has Not been responsible for the armed conflicts troubling Central America for much of its history. 1

Chapter 11, Section Wealth, Poverty, and Political Conflict El Salvador is one of the few Central American countries that has historically had a democratically elected government. 1

Chapter 11, Section Section 1 Review What kind of climate does the Pacific coastal plain have? a)tropical wet b)temperate wet c)Mediterranean d)tropical wet and dry Which ethnic group has lived longest in Central America? a)European b)African c)Mestizo d)Indian Want to connect to the World Geography link for this section? Click Here!Click Here! 1

Chapter 11, Section Section 1 Review What kind of climate does the Pacific coastal plain have? a)tropical wet b)temperate wet c)mediterranean d)tropical wet and dry Which ethnic group has lived longest in Central America? a)European b)African c)Mestizo d)Indian Want to connect to the World Geography link for this section? Click Here!Click Here! 1

Chapter 11, Section Bellringer Why was there not as much ethnic mixing in Guatemala as there was in Costa Rico?

Chapter 11, Section The Caribbean Islands What are the major physical characteristics of the Caribbean islands? What are the ethnic roots of Caribbean culture? What is the political and economic status of the Caribbean islands today? Why is migration so common among Caribbean islanders? 2

Chapter 11, Section Physical Characteristics Caribbean islands consist of three island groups: the Greater Antilles, the Lesser Antilles, and the Bahamas. Mountainous islands, such as the Greater Antilles, are the tops of volcanic mountains pushed up from the ocean floor. Flatter islands are coral islands, such as the Bahamas, were created by coral reefs formed from the skeletons of coral polyps. The Bahamas also are sandy islands that support little vegetation. 2

Chapter 11, Section Physical Characteristics Climate of the Caribbean is affected more by sea and wind than elevation. Temperatures average 80°F year-round, but humidity is high. Temperatures of the Caribbean are moderate because of the islands’ nearness to the water. Prevailing winds affect rainfall. On the windward sides of islands, facing the wind, heavy rainfall reaches up to 200 inches a year, but on the leeward sides, facing away from the wind, rainfall is much lighter at only 30 inches a year. 2

Chapter 11, Section 2 Ethnic Roots

Chapter 11, Section 2 Caribbean Islands Today European colonists arrived with Columbus. Indian population decreased dramatically during colonial era. Much of population of islands descended from enslaved Africans the colonists brought to work on their plantations to grow sugar cane. Caribbean culture was greatly influenced by its African roots. After slavery was abolished, many immigrants came from East Asia and South Asia.

Chapter 11, Section 2 Ethnic Roots There are few Indians living on the Caribbean islands today because European cruelty and diseases killed most of them.

Chapter 11, Section Caribbean Islands Today About 90 percent of Caribbean population today lives in independent countries. Many other islands are still linked to European counties or to the United States. Economies of many islands depend on agriculture. Many work as either farm laborers in industries related to agriculture or on the docks to load and ship exports across the globe. The natural beauty of the islands draws many tourists, but most profits go to foreign companies in the tourism industry and is not responsible for the prosperity of the population. 2

Chapter 11, Section Migration Caribbean islanders most often migrate to find jobs. There is a lack of economic opportunity on the islands. Most agricultural work is seasonal, idle workers often head to other islands, Central America, or the United States for work. Political unrest in Cuba and Haiti has sent many refugees to seek asylum in the United States. Caribbean islanders have benefited from emigrants sending money to people at home. 2

Chapter 11, Section Section 2 Review Some Caribbean islands are still politically linked with a)South American countries. b)European countries and the United States. c)European and South American countries. d)European and African countries. How does migration benefit the Caribbean islands? a)Fewer workers compete for the same jobs. b)Migrants take their money from island to island. c)Emigrants train as soldiers and return to overthrow their governments. d)Emigrants send money back to their families. Want to connect to the World Geography link for this section? Click Here!Click Here! 2

Chapter 11, Section Section 2 Review Some Caribbean islands are still politically linked with a)South American countries. b)European countries and the United States. c)European and South American countries. d)European and African countries. How does migration benefit the Caribbean islands? a)Fewer workers compete for the same jobs. b)Migrants take their money from island to island. c)Emigrants train as soldiers and return to overthrow their governments. d)Emigrants send money back to their families. Want to connect to the World Geography link for this section? Click Here!Click Here! 2

Chapter 11, Section classwork Complete Chapter 11 worksheet and turn it in today so I can grade it and pass it back tomorrow before the test.

Chapter 11, Section Test Day This will be an open note test (worksheets included) (No Book) You must be finished by the end of class. Once your finished, remain quiet and work on any make-up work you need to complete for chapter Check with me if you need to know what you need to make up. If you have no make-up work to complete, you may work on another classes work but (DO NOT SLEEP!) Remain quiet until everyone has completed the test. Once everyone has finished I will put on a video about Central America or the Caribbean Islands