1. Warm Up What is the rain shadow effect?
What day is your test over North America?

2. Central America and the Caribbean

3. Geography

5. Central America and the Caribbean Islands are located between the continents of North America and South America.
Central America is an isthmus- a narrow strip connecting two large land areas
There are coastal plains- lowlands next to the seacoast
There are tropical rainforests- heavily wooded forests that may receive more than 100 inches of rain per year
There is also a range of volcanic mountains

6. Caribbean Islands curve in an archipelago- a chain of islands
Between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea
Sugarcane is the leading crop grown
In terms of geography, how are Central America and the Caribbean similar and different?

7. Tectonic Plate Movement
Tectonic Plate- a part of Earth’s crust that when moved against other plates causes land to rise and mountains and volcanoes to form
The region sits on the Caribbean Plate
Plates slowly continue to move, crashing into or sliding over or under each other
This causes earthquakes
A volcanic eruption in Montserrat in 1996 caused two-thirds of the population to flee their homes

8. Impact of Earthquakes
2010- Haiti experienced its most destructive earthquake in more than 200 years
The earthquake caused extensive damage to many of Haiti’s cities, including its capital, Port-au-Prince
More than 200,000 people were killed and roughly a million left homeless
What causes earthquakes and volcanoes in this region, and what are some of the effects?

9. Rainforests A rainforest is an individual ecosystem
Ecosystem- a place where plants and animals rely on the environment to survive
Rainforests thrived in this region until about the 1900s
From 1900 to 2005, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador lost 14 to 30 percent of its rainforests
Deforestation- cutting down forests for crops or urban use
The forests are being cleared faster than they can grow
How do Central America’s rainforests contribute to the economy of the region?

10. Think, Pair, Share
In what ways does water effect the economic activities of the region?
What effect do you think the 2010 earthquake had on Haiti’s economic activity? Why?

11. Warm Up
If you lived in Central America, what kind of business do you think you could start?
How might the weather effect the way people live in this region?

12. History

13. The Columbian Exchange
Shortly after Columbus landed in the Caribbean in 1492, the Spanish began to make use of the region’s rich resources
Spanish settlers grew cash crops- crops for profit
Sugarcane grew well in the Caribbean, and was in short supply in Europe
Scarcity- shortage
Spanish settlers exploited the labor of the native people for the heavy work on their farms
Exploited- took advantage of

14. The Columbian Exchange
The native people of the Caribbean became overworked and weak from diseases from the Europeans such as smallpox and malaria
As large numbers of natives died, settlers had to look elsewhere for workers
Minerals and raw materials were sent to Spain from the Caribbean. After the materials and minerals arrived in Spain, manufactured goods went to Africa to pay for slaves, which began the 300 years of slavery in the Americas
This began global trade

15. The Columbian Exchange
Triangular trade- began in the 1500s
Trade among 3 continents: Americas, Europe, Africa
Spain began gaining great wealth from its colonies in the Americas, causing other European countries to join the race for profit

16. The Columbian Exchange
Sequence of Events
Spanish explorers look for new trade routes (Columbus)
Spanish explorers settle in the Caribbean
They exploit native people to farm the land
The native workers die due to diseases and being overworked
The colonists now want slaves
Colonists send raw materials to Spain
Spain sends manufactured goods to Africa
Africa sends slaves to the Americas

17. Create a T-Chart
Pick either Europe, Central America and the Caribbean, or Africa
List the costs and benefits of the Triangular Trade for the continent you chose
We will share with the class
Costs
Benefits

18. The Columbian Exchange led to increased competition for global trade among European countries
By the 1780’s, Europe had colonized nearly all of Central America and the Caribbean
Forced labor and other harsh practices used by European settlers stirred thoughts of independence among native groups
The native groups wanted to regain control of their lands

19. Haiti Leads the Way
1791- Haiti had become the leading producer of sugarcane in the Caribbean
A small number of wealthy French colonists used about a half million slaves
By 1791 slaves far outnumbered white planters
Haitian slaves began a rebellion
In 1794, the French government abolished slavery, but it kept control of the island
Toussaint L’Ouverture- a former slave who began a movement for independence

20. Haiti
L’ouverture’s army struggled with the French for power until 1803, when he died in prison
Soon after his death, his army won victory over the French military
Haiti declared itself independent on January 1, 1804
Haiti became the first free country in the Caribbean
What was going on around the world during the Haitian revolution?

21. Calls for Freedom Spread
Spanish colonies in the Americas were ruled by viceroys- governors who represented the Spanish king and queen
Viceroys controlled all of the land’s resources
In 1821, Mexico seized control of much of present-day Central America
In 1823, it broke from Mexican control and became the United Provinces of Central America
Over the next 20 years, each province- Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica- would declare independence

22. Caribbean Independence
Haiti was the first Caribbean island to become independent
The United States and Europe wanted to keep control of the islands’ many resources
As a result, most of the islands would not be independent until the 1900s
Do you think there are any Caribbean countries that are still territories of larger countries today?

23. Cuba Spain ruled Cuba as a colony from 1511 to 1898
Native Cubans wanted to control their own resources and political destiny
During the 1800s, they staged several failed rebellions
In 1898, Cuba finally gained its independence from Spain
Over the next 50 years, the U.S. military occupied Cuba and controlled much of the country’s economy
Cuba’s government was controlled by a series of leaders, as dictators
Dictator- ruler with complete control

24. Cuba
In 1959, a revolutionary leader named Fidel Castro overthrew Cuba’s dictator
Castro’s military took over the government, seized U.S. businesses, established communism in Cuba, and built ties with the USSR
Eventually, the U.S. cut all economic and political ties with Cuba
Cuba’s economy suffered and in 1993, Cuba allowed citizens to open their own businesses

25. Puerto Rico Spanish colony from the 1500s until 1898
During the Spanish-American War, the U.S. sent troops to Puerto Rico
After Spain surrendered to the U.S. in 1898, Puerto Rico became a territory of the U.S.
In 1917, Puerto Ricans were granted U.S. citizenship
In 1952, Puerto Rico became a U.S. commonwealth- a nation that governs itself but is part of a larger country

26. Which events show each country’s connection to the United States?
Cuba
The Treaty of Paris grants Cuban independence; U.S. continues to occupy- 1898
Castro seizes power; Cuba becomes a Communist country
U.S. sets up naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
Communist Party of Cuba is formed
Puerto Ricans are made U.S. citizens
Nationalist Party in Puerto Rico argues for Independence from United States – 1920s
Puerto Rico becomes U.S. commonwealth
The Treaty of Paris grants control of Puerto Rico from Spain to U.S
Puerto Rico elects its first woman governor, Sila Calderon
Puerto Rico

27. Warm Up
What is the event that shows Cuba’s and Puerto Rico’s connection to the United States?
What is the difference between the history of Cuba and the history of Puerto Rico?

28. Culture

29. Tourism Tourism- the business of travel
For centuries, this region has been an intersection of cultures- the meeting point for traders and settlers from many countries
Rich resources brought European groups
The slave trade brought African culture
What negative effects can tourism have on the environment?

30. Effects of Tourism
Overnight tourists use a great deal of electricity and consume vast amounts of water and food
This causes shortages for the local people
Large resorts and cruise ships release pollution into the air
Harms the ecosystem and threatens marine life
Many travelers and businesses are making efforts to offset the damage caused by tourism
Cruise lines are beginning to use recyclable materials and conserve fuel
Some travelers contribute to programs that plant trees in the region
Why do cruise ships and resorts look for ways to cause less damage?

31. Caribbean Food
Since the Columbian Exchange, new influences continued to add to the region’s diet
Africa and Asia have fused (blended) into a rich cooking tradition
Rice, beans, yams, peppers, plantains, avocadoes, poultry, fish
Jamaican Jerk- distinct blend of strong spices used for grilling meat
Distinct- easily recognized
Islanders traditionally have diets based on fruits, vegetables, meat, and fish
Now with fast food opened up to the region, the people have more modern foods
What effects of meeting people from other nations have on a culture?

32. Caribbean Music
Island cultures blended European and African instruments to the islands
Calypso began on the island of Trinidad as a type of folk music. It uses simple rhythms and local language to tell stories
Salsa, merengue, ska, reggae
What foods and music have blended together to become part of culture in the Caribbean islands?

33. The Panama Canal
Spanish explorers wanted to create a canal to make it easier to get from Europe to the Pacific Ocean
Canal- artificial water route
Panama declared independence from Colombia in 1903
After declaring independence, the government of Panama gave the United States control of the Panama Canal Zone
This is where the canal would be built

34. The Panama Canal
Many obstacles needed to be overcome in order to build the canal
Doctors worked to eliminate mosquitoes that caused serious diseases
Eliminate- get rid of
The terrain of Panama was also a challenge
Terrain- physical land
Brush, swamps, rocks

35. The Panama Canal The canal took 10 years to build (1904- 1914)
More than 20,000 workers died in the process
The canal connected the world as a whole
With the creation of larger ships that we have today, Panama is expanding the Canal
Will be completed this year, 2015
What made building a water route connecting the Atlantic to the Pacific important?

36. Costa Rica vs. Nicaragua
Costa Rica and Nicaragua have very different histories, leading to a very stable Costa Rica and very poor Nicaragua
Costa Rica
No army since 1949
Capital city, San Jose, is home to many human rights organizations
Costa Rica has created a stable economy
Tourism is country’s greatest source of income
Tourism provides jobs to more than 50% of the working population
Economy has grown over the last 20 years
Poverty rate has remained between 15 and 20%
In 2009, Costa Rica joined other joined other Central American countries in a free trade agreement with the United States

37. Costa Rica vs. Nicaragua
Nicaragua is very different from Costa Rica
Unstable government since its independence from Spain in 1821
Country was hit by a major hurricane in 1998
Needed to develop social programs to help poor people, one fourth of the population
Nicaragua also joined the free trade agreement with the United States
In 2012, the Nicaraguan economy grew just 4%
Rural businesses have used marketing to promote their products
Many Nicaraguans migrate to Costa Rica for seasonal work, such as coffee and banana harvests

38. Challenges in Haiti
Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere with 80% of its people living in poverty
Standard of Living- the level of goods, services, and material comforts of people in a country
Politics have been marked with instability and corruption
As Haiti tried to recover from a massive earthquake, many nations sent food and people to help the recovery process
Many of these nations did not require Haiti to pay them back
What will Haiti need in order to fully recover from the earthquake?

39. Migration to the Caribbean
Migrate- Move from one place to another
Migration within the Caribbean
There has been a switch from rural populations to urban populations
2/3 of the population now lives in cities
Many cities have become overcrowded
The demand for workers in the tourism industry has many people to islands with large or growing tourist industries (Aruba, Bahamas, Virgin Islands)
Migration out of the Caribbean
Political and economic turmoil has cause many people to move out of the Caribbean to countries such as U.S. and Canada