Mexico Today

I. Mexico’s Cities and Villages In the center of Mexico’s cities, large plazas —or public squares —are found. These buildings often have a Spanish style.

I. Mexico’s Cities and Villages Around each city’s plaza stand important buildings such as a church and a government center. Many Mexican homes are made of adobe, or sun-dried clay bricks.

II. Mexican Culture Corn was first grown in Mexico and continues to be an important part of the Mexican diet. Chocolate, tomatoes, and chilies were all Native American foods as well. Throughout the year, Mexicans enjoy several special celebrations called fiestas.

II. Mexican Culture Mariachi bands play traditional music. Many fiestas today feature the fast rhythms of Latino bands.

II. Mexican Culture Two national holidays are Independence Day (September 16) and Cinco de Mayo (May 5). This holiday honors the day in 1862 that Mexicans defeated an invading French army.

II. Mexican Culture November 2 is a religious holiday called the Day of the Dead. Families gather on this day and honor their loved ones who have passed on.

III. Mexico’s Government Like the United States, Mexico is a federal republic. The power is divided between national and state governments. A president leads the national government.

III. Mexico’s Government Unlike the United States, Mexico’s national government has much more power than the states. The Party of the Institutional Revolution (PRI) has been the only political party in Mexico for many years.

III. Mexico’s Government All presidents and most others elected to office belonged to this party. In recent years, Mexico has had economic troubles. The people are growing angry because they do not have much say in the government.

IV. Mexico’s Challenges Mexico’s population has increased rapidly in recent years, straining the country’s resources. Many people must accept low wages and crowd into cities. The Mexicans who cannot find work in Mexico cross borders when extra workers— or migrant workers —are needed to plant and harvest crops.

IV. Mexico’s Challenges To help its economy grow, Mexico borrowed money from banks in other countries. The government had to use taxes to pay back the loans. Leaders had little money left to spend on the Mexican people.

IV. Mexico’s Challenges Mexico still faces the problem of repaying the money it owes, or its national debt. The mountains that surround Mexico City trap the exhaust fumes from hundreds of thousands of cars and industrial factories. People wake each day to a thick haze of fog and chemicals called smog.