1. Label the Following on the Map:
CENTRAL AMERICA
SOUTH AMERICA
Nicaragua
Argentina
Honduras
Brazil
Cuba
Chile
Guatemala
Colombia
Panama
Ecuador
Costa Rica
Paraguay
Belize
Peru
El Salvador
Uruguay
Bahamas
Venezuela
Puerto Rico

2. Unit 9 Central America and the Caribbean

3. Physical Geography Mountains
Main Idea: Mountains support region’s economy
Details: Cool Climate, Rich soil, ideal for growing coffee, a key export
Archipelago
Main Idea: The Caribbean Islands are a curving chain of islands, an archipelago
Details: Dense forests, lots of rain, contain many resources

4. Physical Geography (cont.)
Rain Forest
Main Idea: Rain forests help support a region’s economy
Details: Dense forests, lots of rain, contain many resources

5. Earthquakes and Volcanoes
2. Cause: Location of islands on plates Effect: movement of plates caused the Haiti earthquake in 2010 Effect: extensive damage, 200,000 killed, many left homeless 3. Cause: Haiti’s 2010 Earthquake Effect: Earthquake damaged critical systems Effect: Haitians went without water, electricity, medical help. People around the world responded with donations.

6. Rain Forests of Central America
Main Idea: Based on these ideas, rain forests are important to the economy of Central America Circle: Rain forest tourism helps the economy without damaging the rain forest Circle: Rain forest land is used for farming, ranching, and timber harvesting Circle: Many commercial uses lead to deforestation. Certain farming methods can help prevent damage.

7. Trade Across Continents
Columbus lands in the Caribbean in 1492.
Spanish colonists grow cash crops.
Spanish colonists export crops, minerals, and resources to Spain. They import African slaves to use as workers.
The triangular trade arises between the Americas, Europe, and Africa.
Slavery grows in the Americas.
Summarize: Global trade in large scale was the outcome of the events, but the trade involved Europeans enslaving people. Millions were enslaved and this trade in slaves lasted 300 years.

8. The Columbian Exchange
Document 1 Main idea: Europe, Africa, and the Americas exchanged crops and diseases. Details: (Should include the exchange of fruits and vegetables, items such as honey and coffee, and diseases)

9. The Columbian Exchange
Document 2
Main idea: Columbus traded goods with the native people.
Details:
Many men met Columbus and brought cotton, parrots, and javelins.
They exchanged these for whatever Columbus and his men traded.
Columbus watched for gold.

10. The Columbian Exchange
Document 3
Main idea: The Columbian Exchange changed the world’s food supply.
Details:
Staple food of Bantu is maize (corn); not from Africa
Wheat is a staple in Kansas and Argentina; from Europe
Rice is the chief crop of the lower Rio Grande; from Asia

11. The Columbian Exchange
Draw Conclusions Positive effects such as increasing the global food supply Negative effects such as spreading diseases

12. Paths Toward Independence
Main Idea: Ideas of freedom led to fights for independence in 19th century Central America and the Caribbean Haiti Leads the Way: Haiti was the first to declare independence. French control weakened. Fighting, slaves revolted, slavery abolished, and Haiti defeated the French Calls for Freedom Spread: Mexico seized control of Central America, but it broke away and united as provinces. After 1823, each province would declare its own independence.

13. Paths Toward Independence
Caribbean Independence: Islands did not become independent until the 1900s. Puerto Rico still not independent, is a US commonwealth. Map: The maps show what parts of the Caribbean and Central America were claimed by other countries, and when the claims were active. Timeline: Shows when countries in the region gained independence, from Haiti in 1804, including Cuba in 1902 and Panama in 1903, up to the late 1990s when several island nations declared independence. Synthesize: European rulers, leaders in Mexico and the United States, for example, were motivated to take over the lands outside their country to gain resources.

14. Comparing Cuba and Puerto Rico
Facts
Cuba
Puerto Rico
Settled by the Spanish x
Ideal for growing sugar
Good natural harbors
Ruled as a colony from 1500s to 1900
Spanish built large sugar plantations
Native people rebelled several times
Controlled by US after Spanish American War

15. Comparing Cuba and Puerto Rico
Facts
Cuba
Puerto Rico
Won independence as a result of the Spanish American War x
Governed by corrupt governors for 50 years
Became communist after a revolution in 1959
Government controls the economy
Has no trade with US
Became a US commonwealth in 1952
People are American citizens and can move to the states
Citizens have political freedoms and can vote in elections
Has free-enterprise economy based on manufacturing and tourism

16. Comparing Cuba and Puerto Rico
What effect has the political situation in each country today had on its economy?
Politically, Cuba is a communist country with a dictator, and there is no free-enterprise economy like there is in Puerto Rico, which is a commonwealth of the US. Puerto Rico’s economy is stronger. People have more freedom, businesses can open and operate free of government control, and they can pursue ways to grow them.

17. South America – Physical Geography
High Mountains, Large Basin
The Andes Mountains
Elevation: higher than 20,000 ft above sea level
Climate: Cool and dry
Not much vegetation
The Amazon River Basin
Largest river basin on Earth
Climate: warm and wet
Diverse plants and animals

18. South America – Physical Geography
Northern Grasslands, Southern Plains
The northern grasslands
Climate: warm
Elevation: Both low and high
Unique plants and animals in the Guiana Highlands
The southern plains
Climate: Mild
Elevation: Low
Argentina’s Pampas is a grassy plain with rich soil

19. Life at Different Elevations
Tierra Helada Elevation: 12,000-15,000 feet Climate: frozen land, little rainfall Crops: None Tierra Fria Elevation: 6,000-12,000 feet Climate: cool; some rainfall Crops: Wheat, barley, potatoes

20. Life at Different Elevations
Tierra Templada Elevation: 2,500-6,000 feet Climate: warm; adequate rainfall Crops: corn, beans, wheat, coffee, vegetables Tierra Caliente Elevation: 0-2,500 feet Climate: hot; adequate to extreme rainfall Crops: bananas, peppers, sugarcane, cacao

21. Life at Different Elevations
Conclusion: The higher the altitude, the less likely abundant varieties of crops can be grown

22. The Amazon River
Main idea: The Amazon River supports life in its vast rain forest.
Details:
Thousands of plant and animal species and millions of insect species live there.
The Amazon River Basin includes the world’s largest tropical rain forest.
Annual floodwaters deposit rich nutrients that support life in the rain forest.
As the population grows, human activities such as mining, logging, farming, and land development put pressure on the rain forest.

23. The Amazon River
Describe – The Amazon River’s size sets it apart from other rivers. Not only is it the world’s largest river in terms of volume, but it is also the second longest river in the world. Its basin is the largest river basin on Earth and includes the world’s largest tropical rain forest.

24. Cold and Warm Currents
West Coast: Ocean: Pacific Countries: Peru, Chile, Ecuador Climate: cool and dry Currents: Peru Current; El Niño

25. Cold and Warm Currents
East Coast: Ocean: Atlantic Countries: Brazil, Argentina Climate: warm and humid Currents: Brazil Current; Falkland Current; North Equatorial Current Analyze: El Niños bring heavy rains that can cause severe flooding and wipe out habitats. They can also cause damage to crops, canals, bridges, and roads.