1 Latin America

2 Geography

3 Where is Latin America? Latin America consists of everything in the W. Hemisphere south of the U.S. All influenced by Spanish & Portuguese imperialism Four areas South America, Central America, Mexico & Caribbean 1,a,2,a

4 2 Sub-Regions Middle America aka. Meso-America or Central AmericaNorthern Hemisphere Includes Mexico, 7 Central American nations, 13 island nations of the Caribbean & Puerto Rico 1,a,b,c

5 2 Sub-Regions South America Southern HemisphereIncludes 12 independent nations & 2 foreign territories 2,a,b

6 Mountains Led to cultural diversity Sierra Madres (Mexico)Andes (west coast of South America) 2nd tallest in world Longest in world Volcanoes (Ring of Fire) 1,a,b,i,ii,c

7 Mountains La Cordillera “The Spine”Mt. Range of Mexico & Central America 2 branches in Mexico Sierra Madre Occidental (west) Sierra Madre Oriental (east) Fertile valley in between 2,a,b,c,i,ii,d

8 Rivers Amazon (Brazil) 2nd largest river in the worldSource is the Andes Flows NE into Atlantic 4,000 miles long 1,000 miles navigable 1,100 tributaries Mainly used for transportation of raw materials 1,a,b,c,d,e,f,g

9 Rivers Orinocco (Venezuela)Used to transport raw materials & agricultural products 2,a

10 Lowlands Eastern South AmericaAmazon Basin, takes up 40% of South America Pampas (Gran Chaco) Fertile region in Paraguay and Argentina Used for cattle ranching & wheat farming The most productive agricultural region in S. America 1,a,b,i,ii,iii

11 Amazon Basin / RainforestWorld’s largest rainforest Covers 40% of S. America Low lying area covered in dense jungle Home to many unique species Produces 20% of world’s oxygen supply Deforestation is an issue... 1,2,3,4,5,6

12 Deforestation Slash & Burn Agriculture ResultsAsh into soil, but wears out quickly Leaching: the washing away of soil and nutrients Results Loss of species, contributes of Global Warming & the hole in the ozone layer 1,a,b,2,a

13 The Canopy With the densely packed Amazon rainforest, little can be grown The canopy above prevents light from reaching the ground 1,2

14 Atacama Desert Located on the west coast of S. America between Chile & Peru One of the driest places on earth Rainshadow from the Andes 1,2,3

15 Coast Smooth Few natural harbors 1,2

16 Climate Tropical Rain forests cover 75% of Latin AmericaWarm, humid and lots of rain 1,2,3

17 Natural Resources & People

18 Natural Resources Oil Agricultural ResourcesMexico & Venezuela have lots of oil Agricultural Resources Many Latin American nations rely on the sale of cash crops for export 1,a,2,a

19 Natural Resources Economic DependenceMany nations in the region are dependent on a single crop or single mineral export. This makes the economies of these nations susceptible to market or climatic conditions 3,a

20 People History of exploration Native Americans MestizosImperialists (Spanish and Portuguese) Powerful landowners Native Americans Mestizos People of mixed European and Native American ancestry 1,a,b,2,3,a

21 People Africans Millions brought as slaves to work plantationsMuch greater number than ever reached the United States 4,a,b

22 Population Problems Most people live on the coast, few cities in the interior Limited farmland (6% arable) Due to mountains, deserts & rain forests Communication & unification difficult due to geography 1,2,a,3

23 Early Civilizations

24 The First Americans Many historians believe the first Americans came across a frozen land bridge from Siberia to Alaska. From Alaska, they slowly migrated south. 1

25 The Aztecs

26 Aztecs Developed well after the fall of the MayasTheir empire was built on the Central Plateau around the city of Tenochtitlan (modern day Mexico City) 1,2

27 Aztecs Tenochtitlan 150,000 peopleCrops were grown outside the city on large reed rafts 3,a,b

28 Aztecs Government Imperialistic Prisoners of War One rulerBy 1450, the Aztecs had taken over 500 city states Prisoners of War Some were kept alive, others were sacrificed to the Aztec gods. The practice of human sacrifice made the Aztecs feared & hated by other Native Americans 4,a,5,a,6,a

29 Aztecs Women More rights than in other early civilizations 7,a

30 The Mayans

31 Mayas Their civilization peaked between 300AD - 900 ADThe Mayas lived in the forests of Central America around the Yucatan Peninsula 1,2

32 Mayas Farming Mayans cleared forests and grew maize (corn) on raised beds. Surplus crops were produced for large cities Trade Mayans utilized ocean canoes to trade gold & cotton 3,a,4,a

33 Mayas Government Religion Ruled by a KingBelieved gods controlled nature (storms, drought...) Performed rituals to please the gods Pyramid temples Now thought to have performed human sacrifices 5,a,6,a,b,c,d

34 Mayas Mayan achievements Written language Accurate calendar MathHieroglyphics Accurate calendar days per year Math Concept of 0 7,a,i,b,i,c,i

35 Mayas Around 900AD, Mayan civilization began to declineThere are several theories Famine caused by drought Civil War 8,9,a,b

36 The Incas

37 Incas Developed at roughly the same time as the AztecsInca Empire was located in the fertile valleys of the Andes 1,2

38 Incas Advanced farmingIrrigation: water from mountain streams was diverted to dry areas Terrace farming Fertilizer 3,a,b,c

39 Incas Religion Government PolytheisticCenter of worship was the Temple of the Sun (walls of gold) Government Emperor had all the power 4,a,b,5,a

40 Incas Roads Network of roads connected the Inca EmpireRunners relayed messages for leaders using the roads Efficient means of communication 6,a,b,c

41 Life in Colonial Latin America

42 Colonial Times... Rigid class system No social mobilityDetermined by birth 1,2,3

43 The Social Pyramid Peninsulares CreolesOfficials sent from Spain to rule colonies Born in Spain Included viceroys and church officials Creoles American born descendants of Spanish settlers Same rights as Peninsulares, but treated like 2nd class citizens Resented being “2nd class” 1,a,b,c,2,a,b,c

44 The Social Pyramid Mestizos Native Americans African SlavesMix of European and Native American Native Americans African Slaves 3,a,4,5

45 The Church Roman Catholic Church was the unifying force in Latin America The Church was closely connected with colonial governments. Both of which wanted to spread Christianity Church controlled education 1,a,b

46 Colonial Latin AmericaHaciendas Large plantations Maroon Colonies Villages established by runaway slaves Encomienda System Peninsulares & Creoles had the right to demand taxes and labor from native peoples 1,a,2,a,3,a

47 Latin American Independence Movements

48 Trouble in the ColoniesUnrest in the colonies Creoles wanted to rid the colonies of Spanish officials Enlightenment The radical European ideas of Locke, Rousseau & Montesquieu became popular 1,a,2,a

49 The Revolutions The success of the American (1776) and French (1789) Revolutions encouraged Latin Americans 1

50 Haiti Revolution in HaitiHaiti was the first nation in Latin America to win independence (1804) Started as a slave revolt Toussaint L’Ouverture Self educated former slave who led Haiti to independence 1,a,b,c,i

51 Enter Napoleon Napoleonic WarsWeakened Spain’s ability to control the colonies Much of Europe in disarray 1,a,b

52 Enter Revolution Simon Bolivar Jose de San Martin aka. “The Liberator”Latin American George Washington Created the Republic of Gran Colombia Modern day Venezuela, Columbia, Peru and Ecuador Jose de San Martin Led Argentina & Chile 1,a,b,c,i,2,a

53 South of the Border MexicoMiguel Hidalgo & Jose Morelos were both priests who sought independence for Mexico in the early 1800’s After Native Americans and Mestizos united, Mexico was able to win independence 1,a,i

54 A Unique Situation Brazil Granted independence peacefully by Portugal

55 The Platt Amendment

56 Platt Amendment Limited its treaty making power with foreign nationsDid not allow Cuba to permit foreigners to control any of its land Gave the US the right to intervene militarily in Cuba if US property or interests were threatened

57 Platt Amendment Cuban government was not allowed to go into debtGave the US the right to buy or lease land for a naval base Guantanamo Bay is still used today...

58 New Republics in Latin America

59 Issues... Obstacles to Progress “America is Ungovernable”Simon Bolivar Geographic barriers made travel, communication & unification difficult Social & economic divisions 1,a,i,b,c

60 Struggles As groups of people fought for control of new Latin American nations, military leaders known as Caudillos often took over and ruled as dictators 1

61 The Power Three groups emerged as the power elite in most Latin American nations Military Catholic Church Land Owners 1,a,b,c

62 20th Century Latin America

63 Argentina In 1946, Juan Peron was elected president. Peron worked with his wife, Eva, to improve the standard of living of the working class. In 1955, he was overthrown in a coup d’etat was a period of military rule, dissidents disappeared (“Dirty War”) 1983 became a democracy 1,2,3

64 Chile Dictator Augusto Pinochet ruled ruthlessly during the 1970’s and 1980’s In 1990 Pinochet abdicated in favor of a democracy in return for an agreement that the new government would not charge him for crimes against humanity 1,2

65 Chile In 1998, Spain attempted to extradite Pinochet from Britain (he was there having surgery) so he could be charged 3

66 Nicaragua Fidel Castro helped communists gain control of this nation in The communists were called Sandanistas and stopped all civil rights. The Contras were anti-communist and supported by the US. The Contras used guerilla warfare to weaken the Sandanistas 1990 elected democracy 1,2

67 El Salvador During the 1980’s the US helped defend the democratic government from Communist rebels 1

68 Panama In the early 1900’s US completed a canal through the country connecting the Atlantic & Pacific oceans. The canal was returned to Panama in 2000. In 1989, the US used troops to overthrow corrupt dictator Manuel Noriega. Noriega was brought to the US and put on trial for drug smuggling. Panama became a democracy. 1,2

69 Brazil Brazil has taken vast steps to modernize their economyDiverse industry Modern factories Brazil has gradually become a democracy 1,a,b,2

70 Brazil Debt Brazil has enormous international loans which have caused currency fluctuations & inflation Deforestation Slash and burn, industrial growth Potential problems include global warming & animal/plant extinction issues 3,a,b,i,c

71 20th Century Land Reform Organization of American States (OAS)In several nations land has been taken from wealthy landlords and redistributed to peasants Organization of American States (OAS) Signed by the US and most Latin American nations. Cuba is not a member G,1,H,1

72 20th Century Liberation TheologyMovement by the Catholic Church to eliminate conditions that cause poverty NAFTA (1993) North American Free Trade Agreement Resulted in the removal of tariffs between Canada, US & Mexico I,1,J,1

73 21st Century Latin America

74 21st Century Many Latin American nations have lowered their barriers to trade and foreign investments Free-Trade Agreements have been made by nations throughout Latin America Andean Market, CAFTA A,B,1

75 21st Century The political Left won elections in:Venezuela – Hugo Chavez Brazil – Inacio “Lula” da Silva Bolivia – Evo Morales (also the first Native American to be President of Bolivia) Chile - Michelle Bachelet (1st woman President) C,1,2,3,4

76 21st Century Chavez became a close ally of Fidel CastroBecause the U.S. imports oil from Venezuela this friendship has caused alarm in Washington D,E

77 21st Century Peru Peru elected a moderate new president, Alan GarciaFormer President from Period of violence and economic chaos Chavez ally Ollanta Humala lost, appealed to poor natives & mestizos F,1,a,b,2