Chapter 10

Section 1

Focus Question What is a tariff?

Mexico Physical Characteristics Sierra Madre Central Plateau Baja California Yucatan Peninsula

Heartland Region Central Plateau is Mexico's most important and most populous region Rich soil Plenty of Rain fall Best farmlands 4/5 population lives here

Heartland Region Natural Hazards Climate factors Geologically unstable Plate tectonics Volcanoes Earthquakes Climate factors Moderate Tropical Makes for lush farmlands

Coastal Region Regions that are located along an ocean Contain mountains, plains, and forests. are broken into 4 regions Northern Pacific Coast Southern Pacific Coast The Gulf Coastal Plain The Yucatan Peninsula

Northern Pacific Coast Characteristics Dry and Hot Thinly populated Arid climate Contains some of the best farmland in the country Irrigation allows this Dams and reservoirs Agriculture Wheat, cotton, and other crops Major Cities Tijuana Baja California

Southern Pacific Coast Characteristics Contains mountains Tropical climate Natural Beauty Tourist Attraction Draws thousands a year Agriculture There is little farmland Major Cities Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta, and Mazatlan

Gulf Coastal Plain and The Yucatan Peninsula Contains the vast majority of Mexico's: Oil Gas Characteristics Flat Covered in limestone Contains caves and caverns Sinkholes Not a main farming region

Section 2

A nation of Three Cultures Mexico is a nation that is made up of three distinctive groups. 1. Native Americans 2. Mestizo’s 3. Spanish

Aztecs and Spaniards Aztecs built the first empire in Mexico Tenochtitlan Cortes conquered Tenochtitlan Claimed the land for Spain Became New Spain New Spain Peninsulares Creoles Mestizos Mullatos

The Native Population The Native population knew the land Knew what could grow where Given to the conquistadors as presents Native Americans provided the labor in Haciendas Farms Cattle Ranches Known as the encomienda system Women were taken back to Spain and sold

Road to Democracy Spanish rule lasted in New Spain until the 1800’s 1810 Criollo priest Miguel Hidalgo called for a rebellion against the Spanish Rule Sparked a war of independence 1821 Mexico was established The social class remained the same 1910 peasants and middle class Mexicans rebelled against the nobles and leaders. Fighting lasted 10 years Mexican Revolution Emerged as a Federal Republic Elected a President Remained until 2000

Social Conditions Mexico works to preserve Mestizo Native American Spanish The official language is Spanish The main religion is Roman Catholic A small percentage of the population (less than 5%) hold the majority of the populations wealth (more than 90%)

Rural and Urban Life Rural Urban Most people that live in the countryside are farmers Ejidos Owned collectively Subsistence Farming Family Farming Latifundios Corporate Farms Corn, sugar cane, coffee, and fruit. Migrant Workers ¾ population Education Jobs Middle class

Economic Activities NAFTA Petroleum Extraction Tourism Maquiladoras Work for the United States 1 million employed Pollution Overcrowding