1. CULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS CULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS
Latin America’s
CULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS
CULTURAL
CHARACTERISTICS
Presentation, Graphic Organizers, & Activities

2. STANDARDS:
SS6G4 The student will describe the cultural characteristics of people who live in Latin America and the Caribbean.
a. Describe the results of blending of ethnic groups in Latin America and the Caribbean.
b. Explain why Latin America is a region based on the languages of Portuguese and Spanish.
c. Evaluate how the literacy rate affects the standard of living.
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3. LA’s Culture CLOZE Notes 1
Problems
Mulattoes
Africans
Mestizos
Indigenas
Diversity
Indigenas, mestizos, and mulattoes have begun to ___________________________ in their countries.
People with European ancestry have ___________________________ , education, and healthcare.
While Latin Americans are _____________________________________________ , there are still some problems.
Brazil, Panama, _______________ , Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Colombia have the highest populations of mulattoes.
When Africans married Europeans, their offspring were known as ___________________________ , or people of mixed African and European descent.
Many live in Brazil, Panama, and the ___________________________ .
___________________________ of these people live in Latin America today.
Europeans brought Africans to the New World and forced them to _____________________________________________ .
Mestizos are the largest ethnic group in _____________ , Venezuela, and many countries in northern Latin America.
Their offspring were called _________________ , or people of mixed European and Indian ancestry.
Many Spanish people _____________________________________________ of the area.
After ___________________________ moved into Latin America, ethnic groups began to change.
People with Native American ancestry make up the majority of the population in _____________________________________________ .
Pueblos indigenas ___________________________ is a common term in Spanish-speaking countries.
The native peoples of the Americas are the descendants of the _____________________________________________ of North and South America.
Europeans, Africans, and Native Americans ___________________________ and developed unique cultures over time.
The people and cultures of Latin America are a _____________________________________________ in the area and the influences of the countries that created colonies there.
The cultures of Latin America are diverse; the customs, languages, and religions from an area are a _____________________________________________ .
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LA’s Culture CLOZE Notes 1

4. LA’s Culture CLOZE Notes 2
Religion
Languages
New Empires
An example is the ___________________________ in Mexico, which blends Native American beliefs about the afterlife with Christian beliefs.
Today, many of the religious customs in the region reflect a blend of ancient native and ___________________________ .
___________________________ of the people in the area are Roman Catholic.
The major religion in the area is ___________________________ , which was brought by European settlers.
The people in Haiti and French Guiana speak ___________________________ .
In ___________________________ , the primary language is Portuguese.
Nearly all people in Latin America ___________________________ with a few exceptions.
In addition to the two primary languages of ___________________________ , the shared history, culture, and religion have made the term Latin America one that unites Mexico, Central and South American, and the Caribbean.
The term Latin America was coined in the 1800s to group the countries that spoke mostly ___________________________ (Spanish and Portuguese).
Since Portugal claimed Brazil, Brazilians speak the ___________________________ .
Because most of the countries in Latin America were ___________________________ , the Spanish language is the most spoken language of the region.
Spain conquered and settled in Florida, Mexico, large parts of ___________________________ , and many islands in the Caribbean.
After ___________________________ discovered the New World in 1492, Spain, Portugal, and other European countries sent ships to explore these new lands.
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LA’s Culture CLOZE Notes 2

5. LA’s Culture CLOZE Notes 3
Time to Help
Cycle of Poverty
Standard of Living
Latin America
Literacy
Many governments, missionaries, & aid groups come to the poorest countries in Latin America & are ___________________________ in educating their children.
The goal of every country is to have ___________________________ among its people.
The standard of living remains low for these families because their ___________________________ .
Uneducated are forced to get ___________________________ , so they cannot get enough money to pay for their children’s education, and cycle continues for generations.
A ___________________________ can develop when people cannot get an education…
One reason that many people cannot read/write is that their communities ___________________________ to pay for teachers or schools.
The standard of living ___________________________ of the people in the country) is often higher in countries where the literacy rate is high.
Today, Latin American countries with low literacy rates are eager to improve literacy and ___________________________ for citizens.
On average, almost ___________________________ in Latin America can read and write; unfortunately, that leaves 11% who are illiterate.
The countries of Latin America have ___________________________ of their people in the past decade.
They can afford housing, food, healthcare, & ___________________________ .
People who can read get better jobs, earn more money, and can afford to ___________________________ .
Having a high literacy rate is important to the ___________________________ in a country.
Literacy is a major factor in whether a person is able to be ___________________________ .
Traditionally, nations with higher literacy rates tend to have an ___________________________ economically.
Literacy rate is the percentage of a country’s population over the age of 15 that can ___________________________ .
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LA’s Culture CLOZE Notes 3

6. Ethnic Groups, Languages,
Latin America’s
Cultural
Characteristics
Ethnic Groups, Languages,
& Literacy Rate
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7. Ethnic
Groups
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8. Diversity
The cultures of Latin America are diverse; the customs, languages, and religions from an area are a result of its history.
The people and cultures of Latin America are a blend of the native groups in the area and the influences of the countries that created colonies there.
Europeans, Africans, and Native Americans have intermarried and developed unique cultures over time.
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9. Indigenas
The native peoples of the Americas are the descendants of the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America.
Pueblos indigenas (indigenous peoples) is a common term in Spanish-speaking countries.
People with Native American ancestry make up the majority of the population in Bolivia, Peru, and Guatemala.
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11. Mestizo
Indigenas
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12. Mestizos
After Spanish settlers moved into Latin America, ethnic groups began to change.
Many Spanish people married indigenous people of the area.
Their offspring were called mestizos, or people of mixed European and Indian ancestry.
Mestizos are the largest ethnic group in Mexico, Venezuela, and many countries in northern Latin America.
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15. Africans
Europeans brought Africans to the New World and forced them to work as slaves.
Descendants of these people live in Latin America today.
Many live in Brazil, Panama, and the West Indies.
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18. Mulattoes
When Africans married Europeans, their offspring were known as mulattoes, or people of mixed African and European descent.
Brazil, Panama, Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Colombia have the highest populations of mulattoes.
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20. Problems
While Latin Americans are proud of their heritage, there are still some problems.
People with European ancestry have better jobs, education, and healthcare.
Indigenas, mestizos, and mulattoes have begun to demand equality in their countries.
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21. Language
& Religion
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22. New Empires
After Christopher Columbus discovered the New World in 1492, Spain, Portugal, and other European countries sent ships to explore these new lands.
Spain conquered and settled in Florida, Mexico, large parts of Central and South America, and many islands in the Caribbean.
Because most of the countries in Latin America were conquered by Spain, the Spanish language is the most spoken language of the region.
Since Portugal claimed Brazil, Brazilians speak the Portuguese language.
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24. Languages
The term Latin America was coined in the 1800s to group the countries that spoke mostly Romance languages (Spanish and Portuguese).
In addition to the two primary languages of Spanish and Portuguese, the shared history, culture, and religion have made the term Latin America one that unites Mexico, Central and South American, and the Caribbean.
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25. Spanish -- GREEN
Portuguese -- ORANGE
French -- BLUE
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26. Languages
Nearly all people in Latin America speak Spanish with a few exceptions.
In Brazil, the primary language is Portuguese.
The people in Haiti and French Guiana speak French.
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27. Religion
The major religion in the area is Catholicism, which was brought by European settlers.
Over 90% of the people in the area are Roman Catholic.
Today, many of the religious customs in the region reflect a blend of ancient native and European traditions.
An example is the “Day of the Dead” in Mexico, which blends Native American beliefs about the afterlife with Christian beliefs.
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30. Literacy
Rate
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31. Literacy
Literacy rate is the percentage of a country’s population over the age of 15 that can read and write.
Traditionally, nations with higher literacy rates tend to have an easier time developing economically.
Literacy is a major factor in whether a person is able to be successful in the workplace.
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33. Literacy
Having a high literacy rate is important to the success of the people in a country.
People who can read get better jobs, earn more money, and can afford to buy better things.
They can afford housing, food, healthcare, & clothing for their families.
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34. Latin America
The countries of Latin America have improved the literacy rates of their people in the past decade.
On average, almost 90% of adults in Latin America can read and write; unfortunately, that leaves 11% who are illiterate.
Today, Latin American countries with low literacy rates are eager to improve literacy and raise the standard of living for citizens.
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35. Literacy Rates in Latin America
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36. High Literacy Rate = High Standard of Living
The standard of living (economic level of the people in the country) is often higher in countries where the literacy rate is high.
High Literacy Rate = High Standard of Living
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37. Cycle of Poverty
One reason that many people cannot read/write is that their communities cannot afford to pay for teachers or schools.
A cycle of poverty can develop when people cannot get an education…
Uneducated are forced to get low-paying jobs, so they cannot get enough money to pay for their children’s education, and cycle continues for generations.
The standard of living remains low for these families because their education level is low.
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38. Time to Help
The goal of every country is to have 100% literacy rates among its people.
Many governments, missionaries, & aid groups come to the poorest countries in Latin America & are assisting the people in educating their children.
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39. Literacy Rates in Latin America
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