Unit 9 Central America and the Caribbean

Physical Geography Mountains Main Idea: Mountains support region’s economy Details: Cool Climate, Rich soil, ideal for growing coffee, a key export Archipelago Main Idea: The Caribbean Islands are a curving chain of islands, an archipelago Details: Dense forests, lots of rain, contain many resources

Physical Geography (cont.) Rain Forest Main Idea: Rain forests help support a region’s economy Details: Dense forests, lots of rain, contain many resources

Earthquakes and Volcanoes 2. Cause: Location of islands on plates Effect: movement of plates caused the Haiti earthquake in 2010 Effect: extensive damage, 200,000 killed, many left homeless 3. Cause: Haiti’s 2010 Earthquake Effect: Earthquake damaged critical systems Effect: Haitians went without water, electricity, medical help. People around the world responded with donations.

Rain Forests of Central America Main Idea: Based on these ideas, rain forests are important to the economy of Central America Circle: Rain forest tourism helps the economy without damaging the rain forest Circle: Rain forest land is used for farming, ranching, and timber harvesting Circle: Many commercial uses lead to deforestation. Certain farming methods can help prevent damage.

Vocabulary Ecosystem – a place where plants and animals rely on the environment to survive Deforestation – forest loss Cash crops – crops for profit Triangular trade – trade among the Americas, Europe, and Africa

Trade Across Continents After Spanish colonization, the region’s resources were quickly put to trade Land was well suited for growing cash crops and other materials that were in short supply in Europe Natives were exploited for labor, many died from disease Shortage of natives led to use of African slave labor Triangular trade was enacted in the 1500s Raw materials from Central America/Caribbean to Europe Manufactured goods from Europe to Africa Slaves from Africa to Central America/Caribbean

The Columbian Exchange The exchange of plants, animals, and diseases across the world. The basic elements of everyday life – from food to health – changed forever on several continents.

Paths Toward Independence The triangular trade led to strong competition between the European nations for raw materials and territory. Forced labor and harsh conditions by the Europeans led to independence movements in the colonies. 1791 – Haiti (Saint-Domingue) was the leader of sugarcane production A few wealthy colonists used over 500,000 slaves, and increased production led to more slaves French Revolution spread to the colonies, leading to slave rebellion

Paths Toward Independence 1794 – French ended slavery, but kept control of the island Former slave Toussaint L’Ouverture began a movement for independence 1803 –Dies in prison Shortly after, his army defeats the French army and declared independence on January 1, 1804

Paths Toward Independence 1821 – Mexico took control over much of present-day Central America 1823 – Central America broke off and became United Provinces of Central America; over the next 20 years, each province would declare independence

Paths Toward Independence Haiti was the first in the Caribbean to become independent The US and Europe wanted to keep control the islands’ resources and kept control Many of the islands wouldn’t see independence until the 1900s, some as late as the 1980s – Some are still European territories

Label the Following on the Map: Nicaragua El Salvador Honduras Bahamas Cuba Jamaica Guatemala Trinidad and Tobago Panama Barbados Costa Rica Puerto Rico Dominican Republic Haiti Belize

Comparing Cuba and Puerto Rico Facts Cuba Puerto Rico Settled by the Spanish x Ideal for growing sugar Good natural harbors Ruled as a colony from 1500s to 1900 Spanish built large sugar plantations Native people rebelled several times Controlled by US after Spanish American War

Comparing Cuba and Puerto Rico Facts Cuba Puerto Rico Won independence as a result of the Spanish American War x Governed by corrupt governors for 50 years Became communist after a revolution in 1959 Government controls the economy Has no trade with US Became a US commonwealth in 1952 People are American citizens and can move to the states Citizens have political freedoms and can vote in elections Has free-enterprise economy based on manufacturing and tourism

Comparing Cuba and Puerto Rico What effect has the political situation in each country today had on its economy? Politically, Cuba is a communist country with a dictator, and there is no free-enterprise economy like there is in Puerto Rico, which is a commonwealth of the US. Puerto Rico’s economy is stronger. People have more freedom, businesses can open and operate free of government control, and they can pursue ways to grow them.

The Panama Canal I read: In 1855, the United States completed the first railroad across Panama. Goods and people could now travel by rail across the isthmus. The idea for the canal still remained. I know: People still wanted to build a canal across the isthmus. The French failed at building the canal, and the US took over the project 14 years later. The project took eleven years. And so: Shipping goods across the isthmus via the canal would probably be more efficient than shipping goods via train. Boats now don’t have to go around South America. Goods can now move around quicker and easier.

Comparing Costa Rica and Nicaragua Strong, stable economy Enjoyed peace for over 60 years Tourism employs more than half of the population Government has worked hard to keep the poverty rate steady Nicaragua: Became the poorest country in Central America Unstable government since independence Earthquakes destroyed infrastructure Almost half of the population is below the poverty line

Comparing Costa Rica and Nicaragua SIMILARITIES: Have economic challenges Are building more stable economies Are in the same region

Challenges in Haiti Textual information Haiti faces many great challenges in its efforts to build a strong economy and decrease poverty. After 1804, the Haitians were independent but were penniless. No nations helped support Haiti until the 1990s. Haiti has a low HDI: people are less healthy, less educated than in other countries. Political Corruption has worked against improving the quality of life. A major earthquake caused horrible damage but brought international aid to the country.

Challenges in Haiti Visual Information: A team of rescue workers from China are dressed in safety uniforms, helmets and goggles. The Chinese rescue team inspect concrete rubble of a building, possibly looking for survivors. An aerial photo shows the tent city that Haitians set up in the rubble. The tents are all different and their color contrasts with the gray-brown of the buildings around them. It is crowded. The buildings are already close together. The graphic of data calls out a number of agencies who responded to the earthquake, the number of Haitians displaced, and the number of vaccines given.