  Originally occupied by Toltec, Mayan, and the Aztecs.  Aztecs ruled from the city of Tenochtitlan.  One of the largest cities in the world.  1519, Hernando Cortes began the Spanish conquest.  Fall of the Aztecs; slaughtered by Spaniards.  Colony of Spain until 1821 when they got independence. History

 Tenochtitlan

  Porfirio Diaz ruled for 30 years of corruption.  1917  Mexican revolution and civil war led by Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata.  Zapata Mexican hero for peasants and indigenous citizens.  Goal of achieving political and economic freedom for peasants and agrarian rights.  New constitution written.

  Culture is a blend of Spanish and indigenous.  Mestizo are people of Spanish and indigenous blood.  Spanish brought language and Catholicism.  88% Catholic  12% Traditional medicine and indigenous beliefs  Per capita income  $14,200 Culture

  1992  NAFTA, North American Free Trade, with Canada, the U.S., and Mexico.  Ended the small farmer lifestyle.  6 million farmers out of work and moved into cities.  Created corruption, crime, and drug cartel problem.  Major industries include: petroleum, tourism, and remittance (illegal immigrant $) Economy

  2006  Mexico and the U.S. began a crackdown on drug trafficking.  Since then 47,000 people have been killed in drug related violence.  Past focus has been on controlling cartels from getting drugs across the border to the U.S.  Mexico shifting focus due to no progress.  New focus  control violence against Mexican civilians. Illegal Drug Problems

  1980s  organized drug cartels moved from Columbia to Mexico to move drugs into the U.S.  Mexico is a major supplier of heroin to the U.S. market, and the largest foreign supplier of methamphetamine and marijuana.  An estimated 95 percent of cocaine comes from Mexico into the United States.  In 2003 it was 77%.  Overall, the U.S. State Department found that U.S. drug users send between billion dollars into the hands of Mexican drug cartels.

  As much as 40 to 50 percent of the Mexican population works in the illegal drug business.  Officials estimate that the drug trade makes up 3 to 4 percent of Mexico's $1.5 trillion annual GDP.  totaling as much as $30 billion  The Fix?  More than 50,000 soldiers have been put on Mexico's streets  billions of dollars on equipment and training have been spent  Mexico has attempted to vastly reform the police and judicial systems  Strengthened Mexico's partnership with the U.S.

  Due to a corrupt political and judicial system the drug cartel have managed to buy people off.  Police are paid less than a teacher or burrito vender so are easily bought off by the cartels.  Replaced by military.  Militarization strategy has resulted in accusations of serious human rights abuses and increased violence.  Massacres of civilians, beheadings, and mass graves also have become common.  Mexico/U.S. killed or captured twenty-five of the top thirty-seven most wanted drug kingpins in Mexico.

  The United States supplies 90 percent of the weapons that are confiscated in Mexico according to the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.  The drugs being trafficked are coming into OUR country.  U.S. spends 3 billion a year in patrolling the border.  Increased drone activity to find cartels and invested money into Mexican government to fight cartels. U.S. responsibility

  Since 2006 even with the increase of police, military and funding to stop the drug cartels they have only gotten stronger. "Council on Foreign Relations." Council on Foreign Relations. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr Bad news…

  11 million illegal immigrants in the United States.  56% Mexican, 22% Central American  About 350,000 children born each year from illegal parents are automatically American citizens based on the 14 th Amendment.  1 in 10 Mexican families are dependent on remittance money for survival. Illegal Immigration

  U.S. employers hire for more money.  Mexican economy in crisis and corrupt.  Families back home need the money.  NAFTA ended small farmers  U.S. visas are difficult to get, expensive, and take too long to get. Reasons for immigration

  Stay in Hispanic communities  ½ of them are in California  Exploited by employers for low wages and dangerous jobs.  Work mainly in agriculture, service industries, and construction.  Difficult to return home; children in home countries come looking for them. Immigrant lifestyle

  Drastic decline in number of illegal immigrants crossing the Mexican/US border since  58% decline of those caught  Drastic increase in unaccompanied minors went from 8,000 in 2008 to 24,500 in  Some are rapped, drugged, injured and robbed.  Although numbers are down, those caught consisted of a higher number of drug smugglers. Immigration today

The U.S.-Mexico border fence stretches into the countryside on March 8, 2013 near Nogales, Arizona. (John Moore/Getty)