Central America and the Caribbean Latin America Central America and the Caribbean

The People Central America’s population is largely similar to Mexico’s Caribbean 64% Black 24% Mixed 7% White 4% Asian 1% Other

Population Density and Distribution Varies from country to country Most population along pacific coast highlands Substantial external migration Poor economic growth Unstable governments, civil wars 60% of people live in towns and cities

Article: Haiti and the Dominican Republic: A Tale of Two Countries http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1953959,00.html

Reflection You are now the President of the Dominican Republic, CONGRATULATIONS! Your goal is to do what you can to help your neighbor Haiti Write 1-2 Paragraphs explaining what you think should be done to help the people of Haiti.

History and Government: The Columbian Exchange

History and Government Spanish settlers seek gold! By mid-1600s Native population nearly wiped out through: forced labor, starvation, and European diseases. Slaves imported to fill labor shortages Independence dates varied. Some not until 1900s Panama, the thinnest part of land, long seen as a link. Panama Canal, started in 1904 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-hfGUpbqxE

Culture: Language Primarily Spanish speaking Caribbean: Spanish, French, Dutch, English Dialects: forms of language unique to a particular place or group Patois: Dialects that blend indigenous, European, African, and Asian Languages. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgRAc7_Msp4

Culture: Religion Central America: 6/7 Roman Catholic Caribbean: English speaking islands: Protestant Spanish, French speaking islands: Roman Catholic Mixed Religions: (what was this called again?) Santería: Cuba Voodoo: Haiti and the Dominican Republic

Article: What is Voodoo? Understanding a Misunderstood Religion Saumya Arya Haas

Reflection Consider a depiction of Voodoo that you have seen in a movie or television show. Explain how it was shown in the movie and compare it with the way in which this article portrays Voodoo. 1 Paragraph Minimum