1. Mexico CHAPTER 7

2. Physical Geography of Mexico Influence Mexico’s climates - Regional high-pressure systems, northeast trade winds, and Vertical climate zones Water scarcity – large growing population and minimal rivers and lakes Northern Plateau – hot and dry; ranching; chaparral biome Central Plateau – Bread basket; heavily populated; moderate consistent temperatures

3. Caste System  Peninsulares: From Iberian Peninsula ( Spain/Portugal)  Crillos: Descendants from Peninsular’s but born in New World  Mestizos: Mix Hispanic and Indian  Indian: Natives

4. History Different physical environments made for different cultures 1. Northern and Mountainous --- seminomadic: herding, small scale farming, hunting and gathering (more isolated) 2. Southern Half --- large civilizations: more diverse, large scale agriculture, more variation in native foods Ancient Civilizations: Olmec and Mayan – Yucatan Peninsula; Aztec – Mexico City Spin arrives 1519: Cortez and others vs. Aztec

5. Post Colonization History -- Encomienda system ◦- Viceroys ruled over an area; appointed by Spanish monarch ◦- Center of area had a church and a fort and town built around them 1821 Mexico wins Independence from Spain (1 st Spanish territory to do so) 1824 Crellos vs. Peninsulares: used Mestizos and Natives to fight - Caudillo ruled as military dictatorship 1910 Mexican Revolution: Mestizo and Natives vs. Crellos 1917 Long bloody revolution to overthrow Caudollos and led to land redistribution 1924 New political party (PRI) won control and established a corrupt monopoly 2000 First non-PRI President (PAN) 2012 Back to PRI

6. NAFTA North America Free Trade Agreement Est. 1992 (Mexico, U.S., Canada)  eliminated most trade restrictions  resulted in trade growth of 10-15% annually between members  Mexico is dependent on U.S. and Canada economy but U.S. and Canada not dependant upon Mexico’s  U.S. subsidiced crops like corn cut Mexico farmers out  U.S. workers concerned with loss of jobs to Mexican workers whom work for less  creation of Maquiladoras and free trade zones