Latin America

Important Issues of Latin America We will look at: Brief History Politics Culture: Religion Ethnic groups

Mexico Brief History: Native Indians were in Mexico 1st 2 Major groups of people: 1) Mayan people 2) Aztecs

Mexico: History 1519 Hernando Cortez arrived in Mexico in search of Gold Spanish Conquest: 1519 Spanish soldiers take over most of Mexico and central America.

Mexico: History Mexico was under the Spanish empire until 1821. Mexico declared their independence Political instability occurred after 1821: one party rule: PRI: Institutional Revolutionary Party

Mexico: History Today the Mexico has a democracy and a president: Vicente Fox- president

Mexico: Culture Mexico’s culture is a blend Spanish and native Indian people Ethnic groups: Mestizo- mixed Spanish and native Indians. Religion: Catholic - the Spanish were catholic and when the conquest came it spread Catholicism across Latin America

Mexico: Developing Resources Oil- the gulf of Mexico provides Mexico with abundant amount of oil reserves Manufacturing- Mexico is an industrial economy that makes a lot of goods.

Central America Brief History: - 1519 Spanish Conquest: Spain came in and conquered the native people

Central America Culture Spanish and Native influences Religion: Catholic (Spain) Jobs: many people are farmers

Central America: Resources 10% of worlds coffee 10% of worlds bananas Panama Canal: important to central American trade and imports

Caribbean Caribbean Christopher Columbus discovered the Caribbean. Colonies of many different countries English, French, Dutch, Danish

Caribbean Culture Many different countries founded the Caribbean, and brought different aspects of culture with them. African Slaves brought many different cultural traits that have impacted the Caribbean

Caribbean Culture Religions: mostly catholic but there are different African religions 1) Santeria- mixes African practices with catholic beliefs 2) Voodoo- practiced in Haiti 3) Rastafarian- Jamaica religion and political belief of social reform

Caribbean Culture Ethnic Groups: the Caribbean has so many different groups due to the many different countries that controlled them. African culture is the most prevalent, due to the slave trade of the Americas.

Caribbean Resources Sugar trade is HUGE!! - this is how the islands got started Rum: Climate allows for citrus fruits, coffee, and sugar cane

Spanish Speaking South America: History Inca Indian Tribe- people who migrated from Alaska land bridge and the isthmus of panama Isthmus: natural land bridge between north and south America Inca’s built a huge empire including 2500 miles of territory and a massive road system. Located in the andes mtns of Peru

Spanish Speaking South America: History Spanish solider Francisco Pizarro conquered the Incan people in the conquest In early 1900’s Simon Bolivar and José de San Martin were two leaders of South America’s independence movement Today: Oligarchy (government by the few) rules S. America, and mainly military command.

Culture of S. America Strong heritage of the Incan people. Quechua- is a language still spoken that is a dialect of Inca language Religion: Catholic Ethnic: all different ethnicities due to the many different countries

Resources of S. America Columbia and Venezuela- oil reserves Peru- fishing industry Argentina/Uruguay- livestock and grain Chile- fruits to north America, copper

Brazil: History Only Portuguese speaking country in S. America 1807 Napoleon (French) invaded Portugal and the royal family boarded ships and sailed to Brazil and set up their govt there. Portugal got Brazil due to the treaty of Tordesillas- established line of longitude that divided the new world

Brazil: history 1822 Brazil received their independence from Portugal.

Brazil: Culture Language: Portuguese Religion: Catholic Brazilians are moving to the city in search of a better life. Music and dance are big: Carnival- people march in the streets to samba music in costumes to celebrate Brazil

Brazil: Developing Resources Originally thought to have gold and silver, but little was found. Cleared land for Sugar (Past) Today: Brazil makes Hydroelectric Power