History of Latin America
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Transcript of History of Latin America
HISTORY OF LATIN AMERICAChapters 10 and 11
MEXICONative PeoplesTeotihuacan, Toltec, Maya, Aztecs
Spanish Conquest1519, Cortes landedConquered the Aztecs
SPANISH CONQUEST When Cortes conquered the Aztecs
they built Mexico City on top of Tenochtitlan.
They also combined the cultures of Spain and the Native AztecsBrought the Catholic religion and
Spanish language
Created a culture known as mestizo, or the combination of Native American and Spanish
Mexico gained independence in 1821
Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI)Est. 1929Introduced democracy and political stability
URBANIZATION OF MEXICO Most Mexican citizens are moving into the
larger cities of Mexico Maquiladoras
Large manufacturing areas along the northern border
Imported goods are assembled into finished products, which are then exported to other countries
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Creates a trade zone between the United States,
Canada, and Mexico Allows goods to travel freely between the three
countries
CENTRAL AMERICACultural Hearth: place from which important ideas spreadMayan Influence
Guatemala
United Provinces of Central AmericaDeclared independence from Mexico in 1823
Split into separate countries in 1830s
PANAMA CANAL Cuts through Panama
and connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. One of the most
important shipping lanes in the world.
Uses a series of locks to move ships through the Canal
Owned by the United States until it was given to Panama in 1999
When the Spanish conquered the Caribbean, they tried to enslave the Native Americans Needed them to work
on the sugar plantations, but the Native Americans kept escaping or dying.
Spain and other European countries began to bring in slaves from Africa.
Culture is a blend of Native American influence and Spanish influence=MestizoLanguage and religion
SpanishCatholicProtestant
SOUTH AMERICAInca
Andes MountainsEmpire ran 2500 miles along west coast
Spanish conquered Incas in 1500sForced religion and language on Natives
Independence MovementsInspired by American and French Revolutions
Simon BolivarColombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia
Jose de San MartinArgentina, Chile, Peru
MERCOSUR Economic group that
allows free trading between the countries of South America Member countries:
Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay (Venezuela is about to become a member)
Goal is to encourage trading and cooperation in South America
Similar to NAFTA
BRAZILTreaty of Tordesillas (1494)Portuguese gained control of modern day Brazil
Gained independence in 1822
MIGRATION IN BRAZIL Urbanization
The gap between the rich and poor is vast in Brazil
Millions are moving to the cities for manufacturing jobs
Moving to the Interior 80% of Brazilians live
close to the ocean The government is
encouraging movement to the cerrado (plains) for farming
CURRENT ISSUES FOR LATIN AMERICA
Unstable governments
Rainforest resources being depleted
UNSTABLE GOVERNMENTHistorically, Latin American countries have been oligarchies A government run by a few people or small group
UNSTABLE GOVERNMENTHow oligarchies succeed:
*majority control of military
Censored the pressLimited free speechPunished dissent
UNSTABLE GOVERNMENT
Sometimes the military would rule in a junta which is run by generals
During the 20th century, many countries were run by a caudillo, a military dictator
ESTABLISHING STABLE DEMOCRACIES
Goals of reform:Est. constitutional government
Have a freely elected government
Participation of citizens
RAIN FOREST RESOURCESBiodiversity: wide range of plant and animal species
By the end of the 20th century, nearly 50 million acres of rain forests worldwide had been destroyed
•Biodiversity: wide range of plant and animal species•By the end of the 20th century, nearly 50 millions acres of rain forests worldwide will have been destroyed
Rainforest Resources
RAIN FOREST RESOURCESDeforestation: cutting down and clearing away of trees
Rain forests help regulate the earth’s climate
Home to about 50% of world’s plant and animal species
•Deforestation: cutting down and clearing away of trees•Rainforests help regulate the earth’s climate•Home to about 50% of world’s plant and animal species
Rainforest Resources
RAINFOREST RESOURCESDebt-for-nature swap: environmental organization agrees to pay off a certain amount of government debt and in return, the government agrees to protect a certain portion of the rain forest