1. Warm Up What is the RELATIVE location of Canada?
How many lakes compromise the Great Lakes?
What is one similarity between the US and Canadian history?

2. What do you know about Mexico?
Brainstorm Survivor
What do you know about Mexico?

3. Mexico
5 Themes of Geography

4. Movement
People come to Mexico mainly for vacation, or for retirement. Some people may go for the tradition that is upheld or the free healthcare. People move out of Mexico for better opportunities in other countries, such as the United States.
Mexico imports and exports a vast amount of goods each day. Major exports include tropical fruits, coffee, sugarcane, cotton, oil, and silver. Just like the United States and Canada, Mexico imports many goods daily. Remember NAFTA?
There has been tension between Mexico and the United States in the early 2000s due to Mexico’s illegal drug trade.

5. Region Mexico is comprised of 31 states, and one federal district.
The federal district contains the capital city, Mexico City.
Mexico consists of 8 different regions: Northern Baja, Southern Baja, Northern Mexico, Central Pacific, Central Mexico, Central Gulf, Southern Mexico, and Yucatan.

6. Human-Environment Interaction
In Mexico, people have adapted to the climate by wearing less layers of clothing, using sunscreen, wearing sombreros to protect from the sun, and wearing sunglasses.
They have changed their environment by fishing, farming, and using natural resources.

7. Location
Absolute Location: Exact location for the capital of Mexico (Mexico City) is 19 N, 99 W.
Relative Location: Mexico is south of the United States and north of Guatemala and Belize. Mexico borders the Pacific Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico. It is in North America.

8. Place
Physical Characteristics: Mexico has a warmer climate due to its proximity to the equator. It has a variety of terrain, such as mountains, beaches, valleys, and desert. They also have a variety of flora and fauna, lakes, and rivers.
Human Characteristics: Mexico’s human characteristics include their religion (mainly Catholic), and traditional foods, such as enchiladas, beans, and rice. Mexico’s official language is Spanish with only some people that can speak English. Mexico has numerous large cities, and everything else man-made.

9. Graph Population Changes
With your partner only, create a graph of Mexico’s population changes over the last 25 years.

10. MEXICO
A HISTORY

11. MEXICO’S HISTORY
The first people to arrive in Mexico were the ancestors of today’s Native Americans.
Mexico’s Native American heritage AND their European heritage, the Spaniards, have shaped the country’s culture.
Mexico’s heritage comes from the Olmecs, the Mayans, and the Aztecs. Mestizos are people in Mexico with mixed ancestry.

12. NATIVE AMERICAN CIVILIZATIONS
Native Americas came to Mexico thousands of years ago.
1200 B.C. to 1500 A.D. these people built a series of brilliant highly advanced civilizations on Mexican soil.
The Olmec, Mayan, and Aztec civilizations are the best-known.

13. THE OLMECS
The Olmec's built the first civilization in the Americas around 1200 B.C.
They are known for the large carved stone statues that decorated their cities and for the small more personal objects like jewelry.
The Olmecs were the first to grow maize and built large drainage systems to direct rainwater away from their fields.
The Olmecs lasted longer than any other civilization, finally disappearing in about 400 B.C.

15. THE MAYA
The Maya lived in the rain forests of the Yucatan Peninsula and surrounding areas from about 250 A.D. to 900 A.D.
Religion held their society together.
The Mayans developed a calendar of 365 days because their priests needed to measure time to hold religious ceremonies.

16. The Mayans are known for their huge stone temples in the shape of pyramids with steps.
The Mayans also developed hieroglyphics, a form of writing that uses signs and symbols.
They had a complex number system.
Mayan artists decorated their temples and tombs with elaborate murals, or wall paintings.

18. Around 900 A. D. the Mayan civilization declined. No one is sure why
Around 900 A.D. the Mayan civilization declined. No one is sure why. Some think they overused the land and could not grow enough food others suggest warfare or disease.
The Maya did not disappear however. Their descendants still live in the same area and speak the Mayan language.

19. THE AZTEC
Around 1200 A.D., a people called the Aztec moved into central Mexico from the north. The Spanish later called them the Aztec.
The Aztec conquered a large empire in central Mexico, and their population reached nearly__________.
Mexico’s capital today, Mexico City, stands on the same site as the Aztec capital, _______________.
6 million
Tenochtitlan

20. Merchants traded gold, silver, and pottery in the marketplaces.
Tenochtitlan was built on two islands in the middle of Lake Texcoco and had huge stepped pyramids.
Merchants traded gold, silver, and pottery in the marketplaces.
Farmers grew their crops in structures called “_______________.”
The Aztec people and many of their traditions survive today in Mexico. Mexico’s food, crafts, and language have roots in Aztec culture.
Even the name of the country itself comes from the Aztec word for themselves- the______ _.
The Mexican flag honors this ancient civilization with the Aztec symbol of an eagle with a snake in its beak in the center.
floating gardens
Mexica

22. SPANISH MEXICO Hernan Cortes treaties weapons horses
1519- A Spanish army led by ____________ landed on Mexico’s Gulf coast then marched inward and came to conquer the Aztecs with just 600 men.
How is this possible when the Spanish were so outnumbered?
One reason is that the Spanish made _____________ with other Indian tribes that had been conquered by the Aztecs bringing them thousands of warriors and supplies.
Another reason is that the Spanish had more advanced ____________. They were fighting with steel swords, muskets, and cannons, while the Aztec had only wood weapons with jade and obsidian blades.
And lastly, the Spanish had __________, which were unknown to the Indians until then.
Spain ultimately defeated the Aztecs, and the Aztec leader, Montezuma.
treaties
weapons
horses

24. Spain made Mexico a colony, an overseas territory, because they land held rich deposits of gold and silver.
Spanish settlers came to Mexico , some raised cattle on large ranches called___________, others started gold and silver mines.
The Spanish forced the Native Americans to work for them and many died from being _____________and from common _____________ such as cold and small pox.
Spanish priests came to Mexico too and because of their work today about 90 % of Mexico’s population is _______________________.
haciendas
mistreated
diseases
Roman Catholic

25. INDEPENDENCE AND REVOLUTION
The people of Mexico eventually rebelled against Spanish rule and gained independence in __________.
In 1824 they set up a republic with an_____________________.
Soon after Mexico lost some valuable land, Texas and California, to the United States.
For many decades rich families, army officers, and Catholic Church leaders held most of the _____________________in Mexico.
In 1910 Mexican peasants revolted.
__________________led a rebel army and said that the goal was to give back to the poor what the rich had taken.
Along the U.S. border ________________________also tried to help the poor.
1821
elected president
power and wealth
Emiliano Zapata
Francisco “Pancho” Villa

26. Exit Ticket
On back of warm up, write down 3 similarities between Canada and Mexico.
Also, write down 2 differences.

27. Who was the Spanish conquistador that conquered the Aztecs?
Warm Up
Who was the Spanish conquistador that conquered the Aztecs?
What are the 3 best known Native civilizations in Mexico?

28. Mexico Economy and Government

29. MEXICO’S ECONOMY
Mexico has a growing economy that ranks among the top 15 in the world.
As in the past, agriculture is very important to Mexico’s economy. Corn, beans, wheat, and rice are the main crops grown for food. Exports (items grown and sold to other parts of the world) include coffee, cotton, vegetables, fruit, livestock, and tobacco.
More recently, Mexico has industrialized, or changed its economy to rely less on farming and more on manufacturing. Factories in Mexico produce cars, consumer goods, and steel.
Another thing helping Mexico’s economy is there are large deposits of petroleum and natural gas in the Gulf of Mexico making them one of the world’s major oil-producing nations.
Mexico, like the USA and Canada, also has service industries (businesses that provide services to people rather than goods) such as banking and tourism.

30. NAFTA
1994- Mexico, the United States, and Canada became partners in the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Under this agreement, most goods traded between the countries would be free of special taxes.
This means it is usually cheaper to buy a product from one of our neighboring countries rather than from Europe.
This has caused many Americans to fear that businesses will move to Mexico since the rate of pay is lower.
However the debate about the overall effect of NAFTA is still going on.
Mexico’s trade with Canada and the United States rose 300%.

31. MEXICO TODAY About of all Mexicans live in cities.
In the center of cities you will often find large ___________, or public squares.
Newer sections of cities have modern houses but in poorer sections, people build small homes out of whatever material they can find like __________, ________________, or even _______________.
Rural villages have central plazas too but the homes are usually made of ____________, sun-dried clay bricks. The roofs might be made of straw or of colored tile, in the Spanish style.
75%
plazas
sheet metal
cardboard
boards
adobe

32. MEXICAN CULTURE
Mexico has been home to many famous __________ and ____________.
Food- _______, first grown in Mexico, continues to be an important part of the Mexican diet. Chocolate, tomatoes, beans, squash, and chilies all came from the Native American culture. Beef, chicken, cheese, and olive oil came from Spain but all are used by Mexicans in their cooking.
writers
artists
Corn

33. Celebrations- Fiestas include parades, fireworks, music and dancing
Celebrations- Fiestas include parades, fireworks, music and dancing. Sometimes you will hear ________________, which play traditional music, other times _______________, which are more fast-paced.
National holidays include ________________(September 16), _____________, the day the Mexicans defeated an invading French army in battle, and _____________ (Day of the Dead), when families honor their departed loved ones by laying down food and flowers.
mariachi bands
Latino bands
Independence Day
Cinco de Mayo
Dia de los Muertos

34. MEXICO’S GOVERNMENT
Mexico is a ________________, power is divided between the state and national governments, led by a president.
However Mexico’s __________government has much more power than the __________ governments.
The Mexican president is head of the __________branch, In Mexico this branch is much more powerful than the legislative or judicial branches.
The president can also only serve one ______________in Mexico.
federal republic
national
state
executive
6-year term

35. All the presidents and most officials came from this party.
For many decades, one political party, called the _____________________________, led Mexico.
All the presidents and most officials came from this party.
In recent years _____________and people’s lack of ________________caused the people of Mexico to become frustrated and finally in a president (Vicente Fox) from a different party was selected. This created Mexico’s current multi-party democracy.
Party of Institutional Revolution
economic troubles
political power

36. CHALLENGES FOR MEX. GOVERNMENT
People want more political ____________.
Traffic in illegal drugs is protected by corrupt government officials.
Nearly 40% of Mexico’s 100 million people live below the ___________________.
freedom
poverty line

37. A ___________ central government.
WHAT IS THE SOLUTION?
A ___________ central government.
Power needs to be given back to local and state agencies so that there is a ______ between these two levels of government.
strong
balance

38. OTHER CHALLENGES
Population- People moved to cities to find jobs that pay ___ wages. As a result, thousands of people crowd together in poor sections of the city.
Migrant workers- cannot find jobs in their country. They come legally and illegally to cross the Mexico/United States border.
Present day Maya Indians live in ________. This state is very poor, over 75% of people live in poverty. Disease and lack of healthcare cause thousands of death every year. Many Mayans joined together to from the Zapatista Army to gain independence from central Mexico, believing they did not care about improving their situation.
low
Chiapas

39. Foreign Debt-to help the economy grow Mexico ________ money from foreign banks, then used money it earned in taxes to pay back some of the banks. So then the government did not have any extra money to help people when economy began to ______. Many people are angry but Mexico still owes money so this problem will only continue.
Pollution-as cities boomed and the economy industrialized, _______ increased. The mountains around Mexico City trap pollutants in so that people are surrounded by a thick _________ made up of fog and chemicals.
borrowed
struggle
pollution
smog

40. With YOUR PARTNER ONLY, compare and contrast Mexico and Canada 
Another Venn Diagram
With YOUR PARTNER ONLY, compare and contrast Mexico and Canada 

41. On your own…
Create a timeline of Mexican government and political parties.
Also, analyze primary sources about Mexico’s constitution.