Central America

Countries Guatemala Guatemala Nicaragua Nicaragua Belize Belize El Salvador El Salvador Panama Panama Honduras Honduras Costa Rica Costa Rica

Landforms and Climates The Mountainous Core The Mountainous Core Mountains run length of C. AmericaMountains run length of C. America Highest are over 13,000 ft. Highest are over 13,000 ft. Transportation in area is difficultTransportation in area is difficult Two climate zones exist hereTwo climate zones exist here Between 3,000-6,000 ft. springtime climate year round supports agriculture Between 3,000-6,000 ft. springtime climate year round supports agriculture Over 6,000 ft is cold year round – little vegetation Over 6,000 ft is cold year round – little vegetation Caribbean Lowlands Caribbean Lowlands Tropical Climate is found hereTropical Climate is found here Rain forests are commonRain forests are common Little agriculture is possibleLittle agriculture is possible

Climates contd. Pacific Coastal Plain Pacific Coastal Plain Savanna is common hereSavanna is common here Region only receives rain in summerRegion only receives rain in summer Volcanic activity has given fertile soil to area because of ashVolcanic activity has given fertile soil to area because of ash Nicaragua contains many freshwater lakes that contain sharks and swordfishNicaragua contains many freshwater lakes that contain sharks and swordfish Climate Hazards Climate Hazards Tropical Storms and Hurricanes are commonTropical Storms and Hurricanes are common

People and Culture Mountains have made communication throughout area difficult Mountains have made communication throughout area difficult Indians Indians Half the population of Guatemala are native peoplesHalf the population of Guatemala are native peoples Europeans and Mestizos Europeans and Mestizos Europeans began settling here in 1500s after the Spanish ConquestEuropeans began settling here in 1500s after the Spanish Conquest Spanish is the official language in most of Central AmericaSpanish is the official language in most of Central America 90% of Costa Ricans have European descent90% of Costa Ricans have European descent Most of El Salvador and Nicaragua are mestizoMost of El Salvador and Nicaragua are mestizo

People and Culture contd. African Descent African Descent Many Central Americans descend from African slaves brought to the area in the 1500sMany Central Americans descend from African slaves brought to the area in the 1500s Many people of African descent migrated from the Caribbean islands in the 1900s to work on plantationsMany people of African descent migrated from the Caribbean islands in the 1900s to work on plantations

Wealth and Poverty Most people are very poor Most people are very poor Most rich are plantation owners of European or mestizo descent Most rich are plantation owners of European or mestizo descent Most people of native or African descent are farmers with no land or low-wage laborers Most people of native or African descent are farmers with no land or low-wage laborers Middle class is made up of small land owners and urban industry and service employees Middle class is made up of small land owners and urban industry and service employees

Economic Activities Most Central Americans earn living by farming Most Central Americans earn living by farming Most live by subsistence farmingMost live by subsistence farming Small farms grow corn, beans, and squash Small farms grow corn, beans, and squash Plantations grow cash cropsPlantations grow cash crops Coffee, Bananas, Cotton Coffee, Bananas, Cotton These crops account for over half of Central America’s exportsThese crops account for over half of Central America’s exports

Political Conflict Lack of farmland to feed the growing population and the unequal distribution of land have led to conflicts Lack of farmland to feed the growing population and the unequal distribution of land have led to conflicts Many redistribution of land have favored rich Many redistribution of land have favored rich People opposing these plans have started guerilla groups People opposing these plans have started guerilla groups

Political Conflict contd. Nicaragua Nicaragua Somoza family controlled government from through tyrannySomoza family controlled government from through tyranny Sandinistas overthrew the government in 1979 and tried to set up a socialist governmentSandinistas overthrew the government in 1979 and tried to set up a socialist government Contras began to fight against Sandinistas because they were afraid of a communist governmentContras began to fight against Sandinistas because they were afraid of a communist government Fighting between two groups lasted until 1990 when a cease-fire was announcedFighting between two groups lasted until 1990 when a cease-fire was announced A peaceful election took place in 1996A peaceful election took place in 1996 Hurricane Mitch stopped reconstruction effortsHurricane Mitch stopped reconstruction efforts

Political Conflict contd. El Salvador El Salvador Rich landowners feared an uprising by the landless poorRich landowners feared an uprising by the landless poor They hired death squads to kill political opponentsThey hired death squads to kill political opponents A civil war erupted from 1979 to 1992A civil war erupted from 1979 to 1992 Nearly 70,000 people died Nearly 70,000 people died A UN peace agreement was signed in 1992 to end the fightingA UN peace agreement was signed in 1992 to end the fighting Hurricane Mitch also hurt reconstruction efforts hereHurricane Mitch also hurt reconstruction efforts here

Political Conflict contd. Guatemala Guatemala Country was ruled by military dictators after gaining independence in 1821Country was ruled by military dictators after gaining independence in 1821 A liberal government was elected after World War II led by Jorge UbicoA liberal government was elected after World War II led by Jorge Ubico A civil war erupted in the 1960sA civil war erupted in the 1960s Death Squads were used to control the people Death Squads were used to control the people Over 150,000 people died with 40,000 missing Over 150,000 people died with 40,000 missing A civilian government under Jorge Elias was overthrown by the military in 1993A civilian government under Jorge Elias was overthrown by the military in 1993 Congress elected Ramiro Carpio who tried to restore peaceCongress elected Ramiro Carpio who tried to restore peace The civil war ended in 1996 and the first free elections took place in 1999The civil war ended in 1996 and the first free elections took place in 1999