1. Intro 1

2. End of Intro

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Section 1-4

4. Agriculture
Latifundia and Minifundia Large agricultural estates owned by wealthy families or corporations are called latifundia. 
These highly mechanized commercial operations produce high yields in return for low labor costs.
(pages 237–238)
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Section 1-6

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Agriculture (cont.)
(pages 237–238)
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Section 1-7

6. Agriculture (cont.)
Small government-owned farms on which rural farmers grow crops for their families are called minifundia. 
Campesinos have begun combining their farms into large, jointly run cooperatives.
(pages 237–238)
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Section 1-8

7. Agriculture (cont.)
Cash Crops and Livestock Latin American countries are the world’s largest producers of coffee, bananas, and sugarcane for export. 
Argentina, Mexico, and Brazil raise cattle for export on large ranches in grasslands areas. 
Countries are at economic risk, however, if weather or other disasters destroy their cash crops.
(pages 237–238)
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Section 1-9

8. Industry
Industrial Growth Latin America’s physical geography–high mountain ranges and dense rain forests–has made the growth of industry and access to natural resources difficult in many areas. 
Political instability in some Latin American countries has made foreign investors wary of investing in Latin American industry.
(pages 238–240)
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Section 1-11

9. Industry (cont.)
Countries with relatively stable governments and sufficient human and natural resources have begun to overcome these obstacles.
(pages 238–240)
Section 1-12

10. Industry (cont.)
Maquiladoras Foreign-owned factories called maquiladoras–most of which are built along the U.S.-Mexico border–provide jobs to people in the host country. 
They also benefit the foreign corporations by allowing them to hire low-cost labor and provide duty-free exports. 
On the other hand, the maquiladoras also keep wages down, may encourage dangerous jobs, and often pollute the environment.
(pages 238–240)
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Section 1-13

11. Trade and Interdependence
NAFTA By encouraging trade among the United States, Mexico, and Canada, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has strengthened Mexico’s economy. 
Other Latin American countries are watching to see whether a free trade agreement like NAFTA could help their economies as well.
(page 240)
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Section 1-15

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Trade and Interdependence (cont.)
(page 240)
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Section 1-16

13. Trade and Interdependence (cont.)
Foreign Debts Many Latin American countries have used loans from foreign countries to finance industrial development. 
The economic troubles of the 1980s caused many of these countries to restructure their loans to allow more time to repay, but at a higher total cost. 
Repayment of foreign debt, in turn, caused needed domestic programs to be halted in some countries for lack of funds.
(page 240)
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Section 1-17

14. Transportation
Latin America’s physical geography has limited the building of roads, but the region does have a major highway system, the Pan-American Highway. 
A trans-Andean highway runs through the Andes and links cities in Chile and Argentina.
(pages 240–241)
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Section 1-19

15. Transportation (cont.)
Some Latin American countries have good railroads; other countries lack the funds to maintain their rail systems. 
As a result, inland waterways such as the Amazon River, the Paraná-Paraguay Rivers, and the Panama Canal are still major transport routes for both passengers and cargo. 
Air travel will help overcome the obstacles of Latin America’s physical geography, but it remains a relatively expensive mode of transportation for most Latin Americans.
(pages 240–241)
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Section 1-20

16. Communications
Communications networks are still developing in many countries of Latin America. 
Newspapers, radio, and television may be censored during political unrest. 
Few Latin Americans own phones or computers, although some countries are beginning to provide public access to the Internet.
(page 241)
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Section 1-22

17. End of Section 1

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Section 2-4

19. Managing Rain Forests
Latin American rain forests are gradually disappearing. 
More than 13 percent of the Amazon rain forest has been destroyed for roads, settlements, and mining. 
Deforestation threatens the lifestyles of indigenous people and risks the extinction of many species of plants and animals that grow or live nowhere else.
(pages 242–244)
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Section 2-6

20. Managing Rain Forests (cont.)
As the rain forest is depleted, there are fewer trees to absorb carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that is increasingly trapping more heat in the atmosphere and contributing to global warming. 
Brazil and other rain forest countries are working to provide for the needs of their populations–living space and natural resources–without further destroying the rain forest.
(pages 242–244)
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Section 2-7

21. Managing Rain Forests (cont.)
Farms and Ranches Versus Forests Slash-and-burn farming–clearing land by cutting and burning vegetation–results in depleted soil that can be used for only a year or two. 
Farmers and ranchers then move on and clear more land.
(pages 242–244)
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Section 2-8

22. Managing Rain Forests (cont.)
Planting for the Future Commercial logging operations also destroy the rain forest. 
Brazil has set aside about 10 percent of its Amazon rain forest for national forests or parks in which logging is banned. 
Citizens in Costa Rica are working to conserve their forests, as well. 
Reforestation, along with new farming, mining, and logging methods can protect the forests.
(pages 242–244)
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Section 2-9

23. Urban Environments
Overcrowded Cities As Latin America’s rural workers migrate to cities, they often cannot find adequate housing or jobs. 
Some are forced to live in makeshift slums and shantytowns, where diseases spread rapidly because of the lack of sanitation systems or running water. 
Many countries have no clean air laws, making air pollution a serious problem for people in these cities.
(pages 244–245)
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Section 2-11

24. Urban Environments (cont.)
Building a Better Life National and local governments, international agencies, and grassroots efforts have begun to help Latin American countries address the problems of their overcrowded cities.
(pages 244–245)
Section 2-12

25. Regional and International Issues
Disputed Borders In Latin America many territorial disputes have occurred, usually over the rights to natural resources.
(pages 245–247)
Section 2-14

26. Regional and International Issues
(cont.)
Population Growth and Migration High birthrates that contribute to overpopulation in some Latin American countries have begun to slow down. 
However, many skilled workers who might otherwise remain in their home countries and help address many problems are emigrating from Latin America.
(pages 245–247)
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Section 2-15

27. Regional and International Issues
(cont.)
Disaster Preparedness Physical geography makes Latin America especially vulnerable to natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and hurricanes. 
Governments in the region are cooperating to help Latin Americans prepare for and anticipate emergencies rather than reacting after the fact.
(pages 245–247)
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Section 2-16

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Regional and International Issues
(cont.)
(pages 245–247)
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Section 2-17

29. Regional and International Issues
(cont.)
Industrial Pollution Environmental laws have not kept up with the growth of industry and commercial farms. 
Air and water pollution have increased. 
Chemical runoff is now crossing borders and threatening neighbor countries.
(pages 245–247)
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Section 2-18

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Regional and International Issues
(cont.)
(pages 245–247)
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Section 2-19

31. End of Section 2