1. 11-2 THE CARIBBEAN ISLANDS

2. I. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS A. 3 islands groups: 1. Greater Antilles – Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola (Haiti/Dominican Republic), & Puerto Rico 2. Lesser Antilles – Aruba, Trinidad & Tobago, Netherland Antilles, and the remaining smaller Caribbean islands 3. Bahamas – archipelago, or group of islands, consists of almost 700 islands

3. B. Island Formations 1. the Greater Antilles and some of the Lesser Antilles are the tops of volcanic mountains that have been pushed up from the ocean floor 2. some of the Lesser Antilles islands were formed by recent volcanoes & are still active (Martinique & St. Vincent) 3. Coral Islands – those with flatter terrain, were formed by the remains of colonies of coral (Bahamas) C. Marine Climate

4. II. ETHNIC ROOTS A. Original Inhabitants 1. most Natives vanished after Europeans arrived 2. many died from disease and others died from the Europeans cruel treatment B. African Descent 1. the colonists needed people to work on their plantations, so they brought with them millions of enslaved Africans

5. III. CARIBBEAN NATIONS TODAY A. 90% of the population live in independent countries B. The other Caribbean islands are still politically linked to European countries or the US 1. United Kingdom – British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Montserrat, and some smaller islands 2. US Territories – U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico 3. France – Guadeloupe and Martinique 4. Netherlands – Antilles and Aruba (govern themselves)

6. IV. ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES A. Much of the world’s sugar, bananas, coconuts, cocoa, rice, and cotton are produced here C. Besides growing these goods, many people in the islands work in industries related to them (like refining, packaging, loading, shipping, etc.) D. Tourism is a very large part of the economy

7. V. MIGRATION A. The sugar plantation’s busy season only lasts for 4 months, so during the dead season (“tiempo muerto”) workers pack up and move to find work in other islands, Central America, or the US

8. B. Unhappiness at Home 1. some political changes have forced people to move to other places 2. Cuba – after Fidel Castro set up a communist government, they were supported by the Soviet Union…when the Soviet Union fell in 1991, Cuba plunged into poverty 3. Haiti – ruled by military dictators and very poor…so many people have fled to find better opportunities