1. Background on Central American Politics

2. “Land of Volcanoes and Earthquakes”

3. Rainforests in Costa Rica and Guatemala

4. Mangroves in coastal Costa Rica, near Puerto Limón

6. Demographics of Central America Population density Central America 114.6 per km² South America14.3 per km² United States28.6 per km² Population growth rates Central America2.1% El Salvador 2.7% South America1.7%

7. Consequences of Demographic Trends Pressures on environment and natural resources

8. Pressure for Access to Farm Land 2. Pressure for access to farm lands

9. Quality of Life Income Levels Central America $1010 GNP per capita South America$3050 GNP per capita Adult Literacy Central America83% Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua70% South America92% Under-5 Infant Mortality Central America160 per 1,000 South America136 per 1,000

10. 20 th Century Power Groups (Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador) 1.Large Land Owners – hacendados 2.Military 3.Workers – rural and urban 4.Catholic Church 5.Middle Sectors 6.External Actors – esp. U.S. government

11. Hacendados (Large land owners) Created an oligarchy under Liberal Party rule Cash crops for export and concentration of land ownership El Salvador (1970s) -- 20% pop. owned 60% land Nicaragua – Somoza family (1930-79) owned 25% of land Guatemala – ownership of 92% land by UFCO and large coffee plantations by 1926

12. Sam “the Banana Man” Zemurray, United Fruit Company entrepreneur

13. Military Military assistance from U.S. government, beginning in 1930s Attracted poor and middle class ladinos Officers come from military academies

14. Workers Rural Workers Peasants, seasonal laborers Urban Workers Early 20 th century rural-urban migration Rural Population18.2 million Urban Population17.4 million

15. Catholic Church “If a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it bears much fruit” Matthew 12:24 (commemorating deaths of Salvadoran priests and lay workers)

16. Middle Sectors Political role varies Supply shock troops to military Supply universities with students “ The teacher who is fighting is also teaching” El Salvador

17. External Actors 1910s-50sUsing Central America to increase power and increase corporate wealth 1960s-80sInvolvement linked to Cold War concerns --Military aid and training --Intelligence gathering for U.S.