1. Central America and the Caribbean

2. The Panama Canal
The United States won control of the Panama Canal and a ten mile area surrounding the canal by supporting if not encouraging Panama to seek independence from Colombia.

3. The Panama Canal
The United States built and controlled the Panama Canal due to a series of treaties that turned control of the canal over to Panama in 1999.

4. Native and Colonial Central America
The Mayan people built a great civilization in southern Mexico and Central America.
The Mayan created many temple cities that were used for religious rituals.
Each Mayan city was independent from the others and ruled by a god-king.

6. Spanish Rule Ends
Spain ruled Central America until 1821 when Mexico won its independence..
In 1823, the all of the Central American countries declared their independence form Mexico and entered into an alliance called the United Provinces of Central America.

7. Caribbean Influences
The islands of the Caribbean were inhabited by the Taino when Christopher Columbus arrived.
He believed that they would make good workers but most of them died quickly from disease.

8. Slavery is Introduced in the Caribbean
Africans were brought to the Caribbean to replace the Taino.
The slaves were brought to work on the sugar plantations.
The introduced African population has helped to shape the culture of the islands.

9. Multi Cultured Caribbean
By the 1800s, many European countries had claimed islands in the Caribbean for sugar production

10. Caribbean Independence
Haiti was a French colony that successfully won its independence as a rebellion of the slaves, led by Toussaint L’Ouverture overtook the French government on the island.
Toussaint L’Ouverture

11. Other Successful Revolutions
Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago all achieved full independence from Great Britain in 1962

12. Cultural Blends Central America Caribbean Native American Spanish
Catholicism
Rural populations
Spanish language
Problems Related to Conquest
Deforestation
Inequitable economic divisions
Dislocation of people
Caribbean
Mixed European
Native American
African
Catholicism
Protestantism
African religions
Urban populations
Spanish, English, and Dutch languages
Problems Related to Conquest
Slavery

13. Economics
Generally, the common people in Central America and the Caribbean are poor due to the legacy of colonialism.
Commercial farming
10% of world coffee
Bananas
Forest products

14. Popular Culture Music-
Calypso: Combination of African, Spanish, and Caribbean island elements, using steel drums, guitars and improvised lyrics.

15. Reggae
Developed in Jamaica in the 1960s, as a combination of Caribbean, African and American musical elements.
Reggae deals with social and religious issues.
Bob Marley

16. Tourism and Informal Economy
Caribbean:
Rapid population growth is leading to high unemployment.
Schools are preparing students for tourism industry and agriculture.
Informal Economy: Many in Central America and the Caribbean work in informal economic industries such as street vending, and shoe shining as a way to make enough money daily to eat.

17. Poverty in the Caribbean